Ahat Abliz, Xinjiang Radio and Television Station

Recently, Pompeo once again ignored the facts, deliberately attacked and smeared the Chinese government’s governing policies on Xinjiang. As a native of Xinjiang, I express great indignation and strong opposition.

My name is Ahat Abliz, a Uygur, and I am a cameraman of Xinjiang Radio and Television Station. Over the past 20 years, I have used my camera to record the prosperous development of Xinjiang, showing the good life of people of all ethnic groups in unity and progress. Let me tell Pompeo, Xinjiang is a beautiful place, whose beauty lies not only in its magnificent scenery and colorful cultures, but also in the deep friendship of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

In July 2003, I graduated from College of Humanities of Xinjiang Normal University, majoring in Chinese, and began to work at Xinjiang Radio and Television Station. This is a big family composed of employees of various ethnic backgrounds, including Han, Uygur, Kazakh, Mongolian, Kirgiz, Hui, Manchu, Xibe, Tibetan, Tujia, Russian, Uzbek, and Tatar. The ethnic minority employees account for more than 50% of the people of the Station. Guided by the national policies of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, Xinjiang Radio and Television Station has become the most multilingual and widest-coverage provincial radio and television media in China, operating 12 radio frequencies and 12 TV channels in 5 languages, including Chinese, Uygur, Kazakh, Mongolian and Kirgiz (of which 10 frequencies and channels are broadcast in ethnic languages). More than 100 radio and television programs in news, social education, entertainment, tourism and culture, children and sports provide a constant supply of diverse and colorful spiritual food for people of all ethnic groups.

From 2016 to 2017, I was sent to Communication University of China to study for one year as a chosen technician in the program for training talents of ethnic minorities in science and technology. During my one-year study in Beijing, the capital of China, I have witnessed the brilliant achievements made by our country, been more deeply influenced by the long and splendid Chinese culture, and felt the warmth and strength of the big family of ethnic solidarity. During the study period, Zhang Yaxin, a professor at Communication University of China, saw that I was struggling a bit with my studies and asked me after each class if there was anything I didn’t understand in the course, and used the rest of the time to provide special tutoring for my weak theoretical foundation and other problems. Li Guang, a classmate from Shandong, lived next door. He is a kind-hearted elder brother with broad vision and profound knowledge. He learned that I was not used to living here and felt homesick, so he cared for me and talked with me after class to exchange his learning experience. On weekends, he invited me to visit the local scenic spots and taste local specialties, so that I was no longer alone. To thank him for his care and help, I also invited him and my classmates to Xinjiang-style restaurants in Beijing to eat authentic Xinjiang noodles and big plate chicken. It was very pleasant and cordial for us to talk together, and we still keep close contact with each other and continue our brotherly friendship.

My hometown is in Hami, Xinjiang. Almost every Uygur family there has a Han relative. Our family’s Han relative is Yang, who is my father’s good friend, and we affectionately call him Uncle Yang. I remember when I was a child, he frequently came to our house and brought candy and tea, eating and chatting with us. At that time we also followed adults to visit Uncle Yang’s house and sent New Year’s greetings, just like a family.

Urumqi, where I work and live, is also a “National Model City for Ethnic Unity and Progress.” In this city, many people, from leaders of the autonomous region to ordinary citizens, have relatives of different ethnic groups and some families even have relatives of several different ethnic groups. Relatives are all in remote rural areas or grassroots communities. They visit their relatives several times a year, live with their relatives and families, learn and work together, and sometimes invite relatives to Urumqi to experience the prosperity of a modern metropolis. We are all proud of Xinjiang’s achievements. Statistics show that from 2014 to 2019, Xinjiang’s GDP grew from 919.59 billion yuan to 1.359.71 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 7.2%. Nowadays, people’s living standards in Xinjiang have improved markedly, basic public services in urban and rural areas have been continuously improved, and the social security system has become perfect. All of these are achieved, thanks to the solidarity and hard work of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang under the strong leadership and cordial care of the Communist Party of China.

The good situation of social stability, economic prosperity and people living in peace and contentment in Xinjiang is evident to the whole world, and everyone in Xinjiang and every Uygur has personally participated in and felt it. It cannot be erased by Pompeo’s lies of the century!