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The Press Conference on Refuting "Forced Labor" in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

The Press Conference on Refuting "Forced Labor" in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

(December, 10, 2021)

On December 10, 2021, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region held a press conference to refute the rumor of so-called "forced labor". A college teacher from Xinjiang was invited on the spot and played a series of short videos, which forcefully refuted the lies of "forced labor" fabricated by anti-China forces in the United States and the West.

Photo taken on December 10, 2021 shows the press conference on refuting "forced labor" by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, capital of XUAR. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Host: Friends from the media, good morning! Welcome to the press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. My name is Hailati.

Photo taken on December 10, 2021 shows Hailati, the host of the press conference on refuting "forced labor" by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

For a long time, anti-China forces in the United States and the West have distorted facts and made groundless claims. They hyped up Xinjiang related issues and fabricated the existence of "forced labor" to slander Xinjiang. This is nothing but nonsense. The fundamental purpose of their repeated hyping of the Xinjiang related issues and fabricating political lies and fallacies is to disrupt Xinjiang's anti terrorism and deradicalization efforts. They also wanted to tarnish its image and hinder its development. They tried to deprive the labor right of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, but those despicable tactics and sinister intentions cannot deceive all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and people around the world. They ignored the right of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to pursue a better and happy life. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and the 1.4 billion Chinese people will never allow them to do so, and they should be firmly opposed by all people who believe justice and progress.

Xinjiang is enjoying the best period of prosperity and development in its history. Unprecedented achievements have been made in economy, social development and improvement of people's livelihood. Social stability, people living and working in peace and contentment have been present in both the North and the South of the Tianshan Mountains. All rural residents living in poverty were lifted out of poverty, and the problem of absolute poverty over the past millennium was resolved in a historic way. The policies and measures for employment and benefit the people have made it easier for workers to stay employed and earn money. Life is getting better and better.

Today, we are pleased to invite Gurina Idlich, a lecturer at the Law School of Xinjiang University, to introduce the relevant situation. At the same time, let’s see the real life of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang through a series of short videos.

Host: As the main cotton producing area in China, cotton production in Xinjiang is moving towards mechanization and intellectualization in recent years. Abdusamat Tohti, a cotton farmer in Awati County, Aksu prefecture, has 500 mu of cotton in his family, which can produce 350 kilograms of cotton per mu in just two or three days by using mechanized picking tools. Now cotton is his "cornucopia" of wealth. Let's take a look at Abdusamat's story of getting rich.

Host: In Xinjiang, people of all ethnic groups choose jobs voluntarily and independently. Their employment is protected by law. And they are free to choose their own occupation, where they go and what they do. Their personal freedom has never been restricted. Umarjan Erken, a baker of nang in Nilka County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, earns 5,000 to 6,000 yuan a month. He said that in eight years of working, he had never heard of anyone who was forced to work, and that everyone worked voluntarily for a living. Now, let's take a look at the story of Umarjan.

Host: There are countless vivid cases in Xinjiang show that people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang "work voluntarily" and "work with dignity". The employment policies of Xinjiang fully respect the will of workers and protect their basic rights in accordance with the law. It helps people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang create a better life. Meredanjan Wusman, from Toksun County, Turpan city, has more than 120 mu of apricot trees and 300 rabbits. He said that hard work is for a better life. Next, let's take a look at the happy life created by Meredanjan’s hands.

Host: With the in-depth implementation of a series of employment policies and measures to benefit the people. The goal of "every family has access to employment, everyone has a job and every month has an income" has been basically achieved. Profound changes have taken place in the life, work and people’s spiritual outlook, especially in Southern Xinjiang. People’s life is getting better and better, and their smile more and more. Amatijan Abulaiti in Artux City, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, has a 6.2 mu of land. This year, he sold 15,000 yuan of grapes, 12,000 yuan of pomegranates and 11,000 yuan of figs. Let's take a look at the story of Amatijan.

Host: The government fully respects the will of workers to find jobs. And the government has created conditions for people of all ethnic groups to work in local or nearby cities, or start their own businesses in an orderly manner, so as to basically achieve full employment for people who are able to work. Muhadas Mutalifu, who lives in Tuergen Township, Xinyuan County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, runs a convenience store with his mother, and earning four or five thousand yuan a month. In addition, Muhadas uses his mobile phone to do wechat business, which not only earns money, but also makes a lot of friends. Next, let's take a look at the story of Muhadas' start-up.

Host: In recent years, the government has issued a series of preferential policies and measures to support the development of the garment industry, increase employment opportunities, and help surplus rural labor find employment locally or in cities in an orderly manner. Ordinary people can choose their own employment units according to the job information, working environment, salary and welfare treatment and other conditions recruited by enterprises, so as to achieve a completely independent "two-way selection". Meliyan Reheman is a worker of pomegranate seed garment factory. Her main work is to make school uniforms. She gets along well with her colleagues at ordinary times, and her dormitory is clean and tidy. Let's take a look at the story of Meliyan.

Host: Some media from the United States and the West prefer to believe the lies made up by a few people, rather than listen to the voices of 25.85 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. They prefer to cooperate with the poor performance of anti-China forces in the United States and the West, but they are unwilling to face up to the fact of Xinjiang's development and progress. This only proves that they do not care about the truth, but are keen on political manipulation and attempt to artificially create the so-called Xinjiang issue. They undermine the security and stability of Xinjiang and hinder China's development and growth. Let's take a look at what people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang want to say through a series of short videos.

Host: Finally, I would like to welcome Gurina Idlich, a lecturer of Law School of Xinjiang University, to introduce relevant information.

Photo taken on December 10, 2021 shows Gurina Idlich speaks at the press conference on refuting "forced labor" by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Gurina Idlich: Hi, every one, I'm Gurina Idlich, lecturer at the Law School of Xinjiang University. Recently, the western anti-china forces accuse Xinjiang of “forced labor” under the “banner” of human rights. They enact bills about Xinjiang, and abuse of long arm jurisdiction, export control measures, such as sanctions on Xinjiang enterprises, hindering economic and social development in Xinjiang. The purpose is to disturb Xinjiang, scourge Xinjiang people's happy life, demonize China's image and undermine China's unified good situation. The so-called "care" in Xinjiang just likes the "Greek gift". As a Xinjiang native, I am deeply disgusted and indignant at the suffocating absurd remarks of anti-China forces in the United States and the West.

1. People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang work out of their own will. The issue of labor and employment has always been a matter of great concern to governments at all levels in Xinjiang, especially in Southern Xinjiang. Due to its location at the edge of the desert, harsh natural conditions and weak industrial foundation, the rural agricultural labor force used to be surplus, and the problem of poverty has never been eradicated. In recent years, the government has helped many poor people to increase their incomes and get rid of poverty by implementing measures such as trans-regional employment in Xinjiang and assisting provinces and cities to transfer employment. Under the guidance of the government, more and more people of all ethnic groups in Southern Xinjiang have found satisfactory jobs, improved their living standards and achieved poverty alleviation and prosperity.

2. People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have the right to freely pursue a better life by going out for work. Over the years, migrant workers of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have gone to work in developed provinces to acquire new skills, improve their living standards, broaden their horizons and enriched their life. For example, Yimin Silaiman, a poor jujube farmer registered in Maigaiti County, Kashgar prefecture, achieved his annual income quadruple when he worked in an electronic component assembly company in Guangdong Province with the help of the county labor service company. Memetmin Aysajan and his wife from Luopu County, Hotan Prefecture, got jobs in a textile factory in Urumqi through free technical training. After their own poverty alleviation, they took their relatives to work out of poverty. After working for a company in Guangdong province, Karman Memetmin and his family from the Pamir Plateau took their first train, plane and subway, and spent their spare time traveling, shopping and going to the movies with their family. They fully integrate themselves into modern urban life. The above facts prove that migrant work is a voluntary decision made by the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang in pursuit of a better life. Everyone has the right and freedom to pursue a good life, and the will does not need to be forced.

3, The happy life of Xinjiang people is the most powerful response to the United States and Western slander of Xinjiang. In recent years, the CPC Central Committee has formulated a series of policies to support Xinjiang's economic and social development. And the central government allocates a large amount of transfer payment funds to Xinjiang every year. The 19 provinces and municipalities that aid Xinjiang invest a large amount of funds each year, focusing on improving the lives of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Today, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang enjoy secure employment and enough food, clothing and shelter. There are kindergartens in every village. Children study in spacious and bright classrooms. Free health check-ups and medical assistance for serious diseases have significantly improved the health of the people of all ethnic groups. Because of the implementation of rural housing project, you can see beautiful new countryside everywhere, even those oppidans unceasingly admire there. The spirit of the rural people has undergone gratifying changes in today’s Xinjiang, they are full of confidence to go out of the home, work hard to achieve income and wealth, and finally live a modern civilized and healthy life.

The absurd remarks made by anti-China forces in the United States and the West about "forced labor" in Xinjiang do not respect facts and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people. The employment policies and practices implemented in Xinjiang are in full compliance with China's Constitution and relevant laws, as well as international standards of labor and human rights. They are also in line with the strong aspiration of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang for a better life. They are a just act that benefits the people, conforms to the will of the people, and wins the hearts of the people.

Host: Thank you, Mrs.Gurina, for your introduction. It has been proven time and again that the United States and Western anti-China forces' slander against Xinjiang on the pretext of the existence of so-called "forced labor" in Xinjiang. That is a lie fabricated by some agencies and people with ulterior motives. Xinjiang's labor and employment security policies and practices fully comply with China's Constitution and relevant laws, as well as international labor and human rights standards.

Lies can not cover up the truth than clouds can not cover up the sunshine. The continuous development and progress of Xinjiang is the general trend of the times and the aspiration of the people. The people of Xinjiang, who have worked hard together with the motherland to achieve common development. We will surely embrace an even brighter future. We welcome friends from all over the world to visit Xinjiang and learn about the real situation there, rather than relying on hearsay or deliberately fabricated lies. We advise the anti-China forces in the United States and the West to stop lying.

That's all for today's press conference. Thank you, speakers and friends from the media.