A delegation of Chinese central authorities arrived in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, at 1:15 PM Friday for celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region.

The 61-member delegation is led by Luo Gan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Deputy leaders of the delegation are Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Ismail Amat (Uygur), two vice-chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Liu Yandong and Abdul'ahat Abdulrixit (Uygur), and a member of the Central Military Commission General Li Jinai.

A series of celebration activities will be held to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region, which falls on Oct. 1.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2005)