This afternoon (26th), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a regular press conference.
A reporter asked: It is understood that the Arab envoys to China have just concluded their visit to Xinjiang. Can you tell us about the situation?
According to Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from October 19 to 22, 20 Arab countries and the Arab League’s envoys and diplomats in China visited Xinjiang.
During the visit, the chairman of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Xuekeliti Zaker met with the delegation. The delegation visited local enterprises, schools, poverty alleviation projects, and grassroots communities, walked into the villages to have face-to-face conversations with villagers, and deeply understood the social stability, ethnic equality and unity, improvement of people’s livelihood and economic development in Xinjiang.
The delegation also went to Islamic schools, mosques and other places to learn about the protection of freedom of religious belief in Xinjiang.
The envoys positively evaluated Xinjiang’s economic, social and human rights development achievements. Some envoys pointed out that the lies of the outside world about the human rights situation in China and Xinjiang were unfounded.
They believed that Xinjiang’s anti-terrorism and de-radicalization experience is worth learning from, and expressed willingness to contribute to strengthening the practical cooperation between Arab countries and Xinjiang.
Zhao Lijian said that seeing is better than hearing, fairness is in the hearts of the people. Xinjiang’s economic and social development and poverty alleviation achievements are obvious to all, national unity and harmony and human rights progress are obvious to all, and the effectiveness of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization is obvious to all.
China welcomes anyone from all countries, including Arab and Islamic countries, to visit Xinjiang and tell the world about a truly beautiful and colorful Xinjiang.