Hours after meeting with President Xi Jinping, deputies from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region still could not contain their excitement on Friday afternoon.

Abudulrekep Tumniaz, a religious leader from Xinjiang, said he would deliver Xi's regards to the family of an imam who was murdered for standing against religious extremism.

"When he (Xi) shook hands with me, he asked me to send his regards to the family of Jume Tahir, and to take good care of myself," said Abudulrekep. Xi joined a panel discussion of Xinjiang deputies to the National People's Congress during its annual session on Friday morning.