"One part of my role is to have a dialogue with the past, and another is to connect with the present. I may be the bridge and link between the two," said Zoya Bahit, a deputy to the National People's Congress and an archaeologist from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Having witnessed the development of Xinjiang, Zoya shared her story of growing up in Altay, her work in the cultural heritage field, and her duties as an NPC deputy. She sees her hometown becoming more open, inclusive, and confident.