Jianar Ahan, Director of Culture and Tourism Administration, Ili Prefecture

Pompeo time and again slandered China’s policy of ethnic minorities, alleging that “Xinjiang curbs the inheritance of language, culture, customs and costumes of ethnic minorities”. All these venomous lies are filled with ideological bias, aiming at sowing discord among ethnic groups and hindering the development of Xinjiang. His evil intention is very clear. Pompeo, you always talked nonsense and neglected the fact that Xinjiang is experiencing its most auspicious period of development and prosperity. You are a thorough liar and cheater.

I am a native in Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang. I work in culture department for a long time and strongly feel that the Communist Party and government always attach great importance to protecting and carrying forward the traditional culture of ethnic minorities. The Law on Intangible Cultural Heritage of the People’s Republic of China, Measures for Determination and Administration of Representative Trustees of National-level Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Regulations on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Regulations on the Protection of Uygur Muqam of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region provide important legal protection for the diverse cultural heritage of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang in a scientific and systematic way. At present, there are 2 world heritage sites, 2 national historical and cultural cities, 20 state-level intangible cultural heritage items, 62 autonomous-region level and 127 intangible cultural heritage items, 232 autonomous-region representative trustees of its intangible cultural heritage, 2 items on the national list of traditional handicraft revitalization, 2 experimental zones of cultural ecology at autonomous-region level, 12 autonomous-region level bases for preserving and handing down its intangible cultural heritage and 17 prefecture level bases for preserving and handing down its intangible cultural heritage respectively in Ili Prefecture. From 2013 to 2020, the state and the local government have invested subsidies of 18.77 million yuan and 2.425 million yuan respectively in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

A public cultural service system at all levels in Ili Prefecture has been improved. Currently, there are 11 public libraries, 11 cultural centers, 10 museums and memorial halls, 115 township (street) comprehensive cultural stations, 951 village (community) comprehensive cultural service centers, 328 cultural volunteer teams, 7,094 cultural volunteers and 12 cultural industry bases at provincial level respectively. A comparatively complete public cultural service system at all levels comes into being. Such cultural activities as the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Corban are held regularly. Some featured cultural brands like the Uygur’s Meshrep and the Kazakh’s Aytes are nurtured. Traditional ethnic minority sports activities are normalized. People’s cultural and intellectual needs are fully met.

We are very confident in China’s policy of ethnic minorities. People of all ethnic groups share the benefits from reform and opening-up and social stability, enjoying a very happy life. Facts speak louder than words. Pompeo, stop fabricating lies out of nothing and sowing discord among ethnic groups.