Ahemati Suleiman, Vice President, Deputy Chief Editor and professor of Xinjiang University Press

Mike Pompeo, the former US Secretary of State who was notorious for lying and cheating, maliciously concocted sensational and absurd remarks on January 19, the last day of his term in office. As an intellectual from Xinjiang, I strongly condemn and firmly oppose such remarks.

Chinese government has been carrying out the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, strictly implementing the system of regional ethnic autonomy so as to guarantee the rights of people of all ethnic groups to participate in the management of state affairs on an equal basis and to manage their own regional ethnic affairs independently.

The Uygur population in Xinjiang grew by 25.04% between 2010 and 2018, which was higher than the growth rate of 13.99% of the whole population in Xinjiang, and much higher than the growth rate of 2% of Han population. All ethnic minorities in Xinjiang have made great progress and received comprehensive guarantee in cultural education, religious belief, social security and economic development.

Besides, Xinjiang has been conscientiously implementing the UN’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, taking measures in accordance with the law to prevent and combat terrorism and eradicate extremism, which effectively safeguard the security and stability in Xinjiang and protect the lives of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. As a result, there have been no violent terrorist cases in Xinjiang for more than four consecutive years.

What is more, Xinjiang has been working to protect the rights of workers in accordance with the law and try every possible way to provide vocational training and jobs for the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. With the support and help of the government, people in Xinjiang are encouraged to achieve prosperity through hard work so they can extricate themselves from poverty with their own hands and live a better life. There is no so-called "reeducation camp" or "forced labor" at all.

And Xinjiang government insists on giving priority to people’s life in the battle against COVID-19. Resolute, scientific and decisive measures have been adopted to protect the life and health of all the peoples, Uygur included.

As a native Uygur intellectual, I was born and raised in Xinjiang, China. And I have experienced the great changes in the development of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. The all-round development the ethnic minorities achieved are just unique in the development history of all countries in the world.

Come to Xinjiang and listen to the voice of the more than 25 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, Uygur people included. We are willing to share the real situation of Xinjiang with rest of the world so everyone can learn the truth. I believe that in the face of facts, the overwhelming majority of the international community can make a fair judgment.

The lie made up by Pompeo is a great insult to the people of Xinjiang. He is a man of no morality who turns a blind eye to facts but regards lies as the standard. However, Pompeo’s slander cannot distort the truth that Xinjiang is in a gratifying situation that is stable and prosperous. Pompeo will be thrown into the dustbin of history together with all his Xinjiang related lies and pernicious rumors, and he will be judged fairly by history.