The Special Press Conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Refuting the Allegation of “Forced Labor”

(Dec. 9, 2021)

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”in Urumqi, capital of XUAR. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Host: Good morning, friends from media. Welcome to the press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. I’m the host of today’s conference, Hailati.

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows Hailati, the host of the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

First of all, please allow me to introduce the participants of today’s conference. They are: Deputy Director of the Cardiovascular Center of Xinjiang Medical University, Aliman Mahemuti; Head of Aqiang Township, Yutian County in Hotan Prefecture, Yasen Maimaiti; Vice President of the Hair Products Association of Hotan Prefecture, Nu’eraili Tuohetitiemu’er; a graduate from the former vocational education and training center in Hotan County, Abulikemu Dawuti; Imam of the Dashizi Mosque at Xihe Street, Yizhou District, Hami City, Aihaiti Duolikun; Vice President of Fellowship Association for the New Social Stratum and General Manager of Xinjiang Pomegranate Spiritual and Cultural Media Co., Ltd., Hanizati Tohuti. Yusupujiang Yasenjiang, a former employee at Nanchang O-Film Tech Co., Ltd. has sent us a video.

Next, I’m going to present my opinions on the so-called “ forced labor” accusation fabricated by western anti-China forces led by the United States.

Recently, western anti-China forces led by the U.S. have once again attacked the policies on rural surplus labor force implemented in Xinjiang, smeared Xinjiang for forcing the ethnic minority trainees of vocational education and training centers to work against their will. In fact, workers of all ethnic groups choose vocations out of their own will and sign labor contract in accordance with the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations with enterprises or working units on an equal and voluntary basis to obtain corresponding remuneration. They also enjoy full freedom in choosing employment places. The right to remuneration, to rest and ask for leave, to labor safety and health protection, and the right to social insurance and welfare are protected according to law. No matter they work in Xinjiang or other inland provinces, their legitimate rights and interests such as freedom in religious belief, ethnic culture and spoken and written languages are given due respect and protection. Governments at all levels have been actively building employment information platform to provide services of voluntary employment and choices of jobs. Information such as the climate of the working site, accommodation, pay and benefits are learned from these platforms. Once they are clear about the basic information of the job, they will voluntarily sign up for the job interview according to their own need. The working location, company and post are decided by themselves. Xinjiang follows the country’s laws and regulations strictly through publicity and education of the rule of law, enhance the awareness of the rule of law of employers and workers, carry out in-depth regular labor law enforcement inspection, incorporate the whole process of the establishment, operation, supervision and mediation of labor relations into the rule of law, and firmly prevent and combat all forced labor actions.

In recent years, a succession of proactive employment policies practiced in Xinjiang have delivered sound results with income levels of all ethnic groups, especially that of ethnic minorities in Southern Xinjiang significantly improved. According to incomplete statistics, the average annual income of Xinjiang residents working in other provinces is 40,000 yuan, largely the same level of the disposable income of local permanent urban residents. For those transferred workers taking jobs in other places within Xinjiang, their average annual income is 30,000 yuan, well above the income made from farming. Their lives have been greatly improved from basic subsistence to eating well and wearing beautiful. Many goods have become affordable and the quality of life has greatly improved.

Today’s conference will bring facts to the public and disclose who are the ones practicing forced labor and who are the people protecting the working rights and interests of general public.

Host: First, let’s welcome Ailiman Mahemuti, Deputy Director of Cardiovascular Center of Xinjiang Medical University to introduce us relevant information.

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows Aliman Mahemuti speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Ailiman Mahemuti: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Ailiman Mahemuti, Deputy Director of Cardiovascular Center of Xinjiang Medical University. The lies once again made by western anti-China forces led by the US are ridiculous and groundless. Out of their ideology bias and anti-China needs, they have been incessantly turning a blind eye toward the huge improvements made in human rights protection in Xinjiang. They not only deliberately ignore the facts but also confound black and white by slandering the efforts in Xinjiang’s labor employment protection, wishing to achieve their ulterior goal of destabilizing Xinjiang by way of sanctioning and suppressing enterprises of Xinjiang and fabricating lies of “forced unemployment” and “forced poverty”.

In Xinjiang, the working rights and interests of all ethnic groups are protected in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws. The Communist Party of China and the People’s Government fully respect the worker’s will and safeguard citizen’s right to work, actively implement the international standard for laborers and human rights to make sure that each and everyone can live a happy life and realize personal development through hard work. In Xinjiang, people of all ethnic groups can make their own decisions in terms of working location and post. Their personal freedom has never been under any restriction. The government has provided good working and living conditions for people of all ethnic groups to ensure that they can work and live comfortably and their families can rest assured. In addition, theirs rights in practicing customs, freedom in religious beliefs and usage of the spoken and written languages of their own ethnic group are all protected by law.

Fertilizer is precious for soil and sweat is the honey of harvest. It has been held by the Chinese people since ancient times that happiness is hard-won and there are no pennies from heaven. Everyone makes money from hard work. How come it is forced? Why do we need to be forced to live a better life? As a doctor and more importantly as a self-reliant worker, I must present my strong indignation and firm disdain toward the malicious slanders made by western anti-China forces led by the US.

As a builder of and witness to the development in Xinjiang, I must point out that only people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have the right to say whether people in Xinjiang live a happy life or are “forced” to work. There is no place for western countries and the U.S. to make judgement. I have been working at the front-line of medicine, science and research and education for many years and have received countless support and warmth from the Party and the country. It can be said that the prosperity in Xinjiang, the happy life of all ethnic groups’ and my personal development cannot be achieved without the Party and the country. It was because of the support of the Party and the country that I could have gone to the prestigious university to receive higher education on medicine and accomplish all the academic achievements. I am very proud to be a Chinese. I have witnessed the real benefits brought about by the Party’s preferential policies for people of all ethnic groups.

The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have achieved a happy life with their own hands. These great achievements in Xinjiang have become “forced labor” in the eyes of anti-China forces in the United States and the West. It’s ridiculous and shameful!

As a doctor, I won’t allow any western anti-China forces to stigmatize my country and my hometown--Xinjiang. Facts can break smears. Xinjiang’s development serves as a powerful refutation towards their smears. Work can not only optimize life but also create happiness. We will work even harder to live a better life with our own hands.

Host: Next, let’s welcome the Head of Aqiang Township, Yasen Maimaiti, to introduce relevant information.

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows Yasen Maimaiti speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Yasen Maimaiti: Recently, western anti-China forces led by the US are making waves again in the guise of the so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang. As a native of Xinjiang, I must present my strong indignation and firm opposition. I will tell them that there is no “forced labor” in Xinjiang with my personal experiences.The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have created a happy life with their own hands, and we must not allow them to smear it.

My name is Yasen Maimaiti. I was born in Yutian County, hometown of Uncle Ku’erban, who rode his donkey all the way to Beijing to pay a visit to Chairman Mao. I have grown from a grassroots official to the head of Aqiang County through years’ hard work. Like other people in Xinjiang, I have always been under the care of the Party and the country. As witnesses to the changes in Xinjiang, we all sensed the in-depth changes made by the Party and the country in education, employment and medicine. In recent years, we have been given better policies such as free annual health check, free education from primary school to senior high school as well as all kinds of grants provided for college students. These are dividends brought about by social stability and economic development in Xinjiang. Policies for ethnic minorities have their wholehearted support. People of all ethnic groups live in harmony, helping each other out and celebrating festivals together like one big family.

In Xinjiang, people of all ethnic groups choose their vocation out of their own will and sign labor contracts with enterprises or other working units on equal and voluntary basis according to the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China and other relevant laws and regulations. The workers’ rights to remuneration, rest and vacation, protection of work safety and health, and social insurance and welfare are protected according to law. People of all ethnic groups find employment in various forms, the goal of "every family has access to employment, everyone has a job and every month has an income" has been achieved.

I would like to ask the western anti-China forces who have become envious of the great unity and progress among different ethnic groups in Xinjiang that why do we need to be forced to shake off poverty and increase income through hard work? It is self-evident that their goal is to impede the development in Xinjiang, destroy ethnic unity and poison our happy life through sheer slander and malicious hype. People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will hold tightly together like pomegranate seeds. Your vile scheme will not come true.

Host: Next, let’s welcome the Deputy Secretary-General of the Hair-Products Association of Hotan Prefecture, Nu’eraili Tuohetitiemu’er to give us relevant information.

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows Nu’eraili Tuohetitiemu’er speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Nu’eraili Tuohetitiemu’er: Good morning, everyone. My name is Nu’eraili Tuohetitiemu’er, the Deputy Secretary-General of Hair-Products Association of Hotan Prefecture. Since 2019, the U.S. government has been suppressing and disturbing the normal production and businesses of enterprises of our association by way of the so-called “ Xinjiang-related Acts” and “entity list”, which are in strong violation of international trade regulations. On Sep. 14, 2020, the U.S. government issued order forbidding US enterprises to import hair products from the industrial park of hair products in Luopu county, a blatant move to deter US enterprises to cooperate with us. My association, on behalf of all the hair-products companies and employees in Hotan prefecture present our firm opposition and strong condemns.

With terrible ecological environment, weak economic base, and ill employment carrying capacity, Hotan is an underdeveloped region in Xinjiang. Our association has been making decent work and voluntary employment the focus of our work by guiding ethnic minority people live a happy life through diligent work. Our association actively takes the lead in bridging the gap, introducing foreign products enterprises to invest in Hotan, and helping the local rural surplus laborers to obtain employment locally and voluntarily. These measures have effectively realized the goal of industry-driven income increase and stable employment of all ethnic groups, and the goal of one-person employment lifting one household out of poverty. Take the hair-products industrial park of Luopu County as an example: there are 45 wig enterprises in the industrial park, providing 10,000 minority employees with jobs. The hair products industry has become a prosperous industry that creates more jobs and brings more benefits to the minority people.

Our association has been operating and safeguarding the working rights of employees strictly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. According to relevant regulations, all the enterprises of the association recruit employees in accordance with the principle of “open, transparent and voluntary employment”. The current employees of the enterprises are employed through voluntary employment. Enterprises sign labor contracts with each employee, clarifying corporate responsibilities and rights and obligations of workers, thus forming a harmonious labor relations. Employees obtain remuneration through labor, so that their own and family living conditions and standards have been significantly improved. For example, the average monthly salary for employees in the hair-products industrial park of Luopu County is 2,000 yuan, the highest 5,600 yuan. Full social insurance for employees are paid by enterprises in accordance with the law to reduce the burdens of employees. The production and living conditions of employees have been continually improved. On festivals such as the Spring Festival, Corban and Roza, employees can take rest as stipulated by law and receive the benefits offered by the company. The workers’ legitimate rights and interests are fully protected.

To improve their working skill, our association has organized free technical training of various forms, which have delivered sound results. In order to stimulate employees’ potential, the association has also organized enterprises to hold skills competitions.A cash bonus of 1000-3000 yuan will be given to the winners and 200 yuan will be given to all competitors to stimulate them for further development.

No matter how big the fist is, it cannot shield the sky. So however delicate a lie might be, it cannot cover the fact. We stay with minority employees everyday and have witnessed their happy life earned from hard work. The U.S. government’s moves are gross distortion of facts, arbitrary smears and calling white black. They have brought severe damages to the healthy development of many enterprises and infringed minority workers on the rights to stable jobs and salaries with their lies about “forced labor”. Their aim is to deprive ethnic minority workers of their rights to live a decent life through work and of their rights to shake off poverty. You are the ones that infringe on “human rights” . You can finish your farce now as every sensible person can make their own judgement. Lies are always lies. People with a sense of justice can easily tell right from wrong.

Our association appeals the US government to stop their wrong doings immediately, discard the political suppression based on ideology bias and remove the so-called “sanctions” on the enterprises of our association and put an end to the infringement of minority employees’ right to remuneration for decent work.

Host: Next, we would like to invite Yusupujiang Yasenjiang, a former employee of Nanchang O-Film Tech Co., Ltd. from Xinjiang, to introduce the relevant information.

Yusupujiang Yasenjiang: Good morning, everyone. I’m Yusupujiang Yasenjiang from Akto County, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. In October 2017, I went to work at Nanchang O-Film Tech Co., Ltd. on my friend’s introduction. My job there was assembling the equipment of mobile phones. We signed labor contracts with the company, and all rights and interests are protected by law. The company provided us free dormitory in apartment building. Refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine, water heater, water dispenser, sofa, tea table and other household appliances were equipped in the room. The living condition was better than that of my home. We were also given toiletries, sheets and covers. I lived with the other three from Kashgar. They even joked that “the accommodation at the company is like that of star hotels.”

When I first arrived at the company, I attended a training for 10 days before taking job. From the training, I mastered the assembly skill of mobile phone parts as well as the precautions in the work. At the same time, my teacher also passed his work experience to me. Whenever I encountered a difficulty in work, I would ask my teacher and colleagues for help. And they were always ready to lend me a hand. I became proficient at the job in less than three months. Later on, I became the head of our team and my salary increased from 4,500 yuan to 5,500 yuan. We work 8 hours a day at the company and can ask for leave if we feel need to. In October 2018, one of my relatives came to visit the city and I asked a 2 days leave to accompany him to tourist attractions such as the Tengwang Pavilion.

I often chatted with my family through WeChat when I had finished the day’s work. I would show my family the new clothes, shoes I bought and listen to my parents talking about their trivia. On weekends, I go shopping, watching movies with colleagues. We had family visit holiday every year, which could be used to travel or go back to hometown to visit family members. The transportation fees are reimbursed by the company. Our eating habits were respected in the company. There was a halal canteen and two chefs were recruited from Urumqi for us.

Our religious belief was also respected there. There are mosques in Nanchang. My colleagues who believes in religion can go to mosque when they were off duty or on weekends. No one had ever interfered them. In August 2019, I left the company to take care of my elderly parents. I left the company reluctantly and started a decoration business with my father with the more than 90,000 yuan earned at the company.

The anti-China forces in the US and the West say that we are “forced” to go out and work and its purpose is to make us backward and poor. We can see clearly that their sinister intentions, just like a black stain on white cotton.

Host: Next, let’s welcome a graduate from the vocational education and training center in Hotan County, Abulikemu Dawuti, to give us relevant information.

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows Abulikemu Dawuti speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Abulikemu Dawuti: My name is Abulikemu Dawuti, a former trainee at vocational education and training center in Hotan County.

Vocational Education and training center is a school in which we have six classes everyday from Monday to Friday. During the classes, we were taught the standard spoken and written Chinese language, laws, vocational skills and information on deradicalization. We have different kinds of after-class activities such as basketball game, tug-of -war and artistic performance. My class has won the first place in the basketball game once. Clinic was set up in the school, with doctors 24 on duty in shifts. In case of headache, cold and other ailments, the doctors would treat us in time. The school also respected our traditional customs, which can be proved by the free food of different kinds provided at the canteen everyday. There were TV, electric fans and bathrooms in our dormitory. Teachers at the school treated us like family members and took good care of us when we were sick. At school, we can contact family members and friends at any time, and take leave if we needed. We can have rest on weekends and national legal holidays. During the holidays, students who have religious belief can attend normal religious activities at mosque.

To let us master the skill for jobs, the school offered courses in animal husbandry, hairdressing, computer operation, sewing technology, business marketing, clothing design, hotel management, etc. Students choose their preferred courses out of their hobbies. I like electronic products, so I chose electrical maintenance. TV, refrigerators, washing machines and other electrical appliances are frequently used in people’s daily life, if I mastered the maintenance skills, I can not only repair my own electrical appliances, but also make money out of the skill.

After graduation, I landed a job in a electrical appliances company with the skills I learned at the school. I can make more than 5,000 yuan per month on average and the highest salary I have earned was more than 20,000 yuan. Later, I introduced more than 10 villagers to work in our company and have become the village’s pioneer on the road to prosperity. I will work even harder in the future to help the villagers live a better life !

As for the so-called “forcing trainees at vocational education and training centers to work” accusation, I can tell you that it is absolute slander. It is the vocational education and training center that helped me master the skills needed at work and live a better life. Western anti-China forces have no idea about what vocational education and training center is and have not communicated with graduates like me face-to-face. I have no clue how they fabricated all these rumors. This whole thing is ridiculous.

Host: Next, let’s welcome the Imam of the Dashizi Mosque at Xihe Street, Yizhou District, Hami City, Aihaiti Duolikun, to give us relevant information.

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows Aihaiti Duolikun speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Aihaiti Duolikun: Good morning, everyone. I’m Aihaiti Duolikun. I was born in a farmer’s household in the Erdaogou Village, Tianshan Township, Yizhou District, Hami City. I now work as the Imam of the Dashizi Mosque at Yizhou District.

Over some time, western anti-China forces have been smearing and attacking Xinjiang without grounds in the guise of the so-called “forced labor”. These lies and falsehood have both infuriated and amused us who live on the beautiful soil of Xinjiang. In which world do we need to be forced to work, master skills and make more money with our own hands? These are just the means for them to smear China’s policies governing Xinjiang, stigmatize China’s image, deter social and economic development in Xinjiang and disturb the ethic unity achieved in Xinjiang. Their motives are devious and ugly. But lies are always lies. No slandering nor rumors can deter Xinjiang’s stride for further social and economic development. As witnesses of Xinjiang’s stable progress, we are the ones with the most say.

I grew up in a harmonious environment where unity was valued. Many of my neighbors were farmers and herdsmen without other means for income. It was the people-benefiting policies of the Party and the country aroused their interests in going out to work. I’m also the beneficiary of good policy. After graduation, under the party’s policy, my family have moved into the resettlement community, lived in residential building, and I have started a happy family of three and bought a car for daily transportation. No one around me has ever been “forced to work”.

My aunt Aiji’erguli Saiyiti is a cotton farmer through and through. She tends 10 mu of land in the Development Zone of Tianshan Town, cultivates cotton and grapes as well as 4 cattle and more than 20 sheep. Her annual income is about 50,000 yuan. Under the support of various policies benefiting the people, she now lives in a spacious and bright affordable house and owns a car. Her family of four are living happily together.

Farmers and herdsmen of all ethnic groups choose to plant grain or grow cotton according to their own will and are independent in purchasing means of production and selling produce. There does not exist “forced labor”. These hypes are utter slanders.

The so-called “forced labor” is big lie in every aspect. The western anti-China forces led by the US choose to turn a blind eye toward the prosperity achieved in Xinjiang and the happy life we are living. Their purpose is obvious: to keep us from better life.

Host: Next, let’s welcome Hainizhati Tuohuti, Vice President of Fellowship Association for the New Social Stratum and General Manager of Xinjiang Pomegranate Spiritual and Cultural Media Co., Ltd., to introduce us relevant information.

Photo taken on December 9, 2021 shows Hanizati Tohuti speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Hainizhati Tuohuti: My name is Hainizhati Tuohuti, general manager of Xinjiang Pomegranate Spiritual Culture Media Co., Ltd.

The Pomegranate team has always been guided under the value of “spreading positive energy of ethnic unity”. Although we are of different ethnic groups and come from different places, we share the same values and aspirations. The so-called “forced labor” hyped by western anti-China forces does not exist in Xinjiang. Their ulterior motives and malicious slanders will not succeed. They can stop their wishful thinking immediately for people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will not let them achieve it.

In our team, everyone has the opportunity to present personal talent and the platform to enhance professional skills. While tapping personal potential and realizing personal value, employees are filling their own pockets gradually, earning no less than 6,000 yuan a month. The company holds family open day every Friday, aiming to shorten the distance between company and families, integrate the culture of the company and that of families so that the big family of pomegranate team warms the 'small family of each colleague.

As a local enterprise, pomegranate team has stayed true to its idea of corporate culture “holding tightly together like pomegranate seeds”. With our strength and influence accumulated through the years, our team attracts a steady stream of young talents from all ethnic groups to join us. And our door is always open to the youth with ambition. Everyone in the family is striving for personal and team ideals.

We witnessed the steps of Xinjiang’s development and are clear about where these slanders come from as well as their motives. These lies are made by western anti-China forces led by the US with evil intentions to destruct the stability in Xinjiang and impede its progress. We must present our strong indignation and resolute opposition.

Host: In Xinjiang, there are numerous cases on people of different ethnic groups living a better life through diligence and intelligence. Let’s watch a video together.

Host: The so-called “forced labor” is a completely fabricated lie. Western anti-China forces led by the US have been repeatedly making waves on the so-called “forced labor” issue in Xinjiang with the purpose to disturb the prosperity and stability in Xinjiang, deprive people of all ethnic groups of their rights to existence, employment and development. All this reveal their evil motives to “curb China by Xinjiang”.

What western anti-China forces led by the US should do is to reflect on their own deeds on human rights, pay more attention to their own problems and do some solid work in bringing benefits to their own people. Stop wasting time and energy on smearing China in the guise of so-called “forced labor” and stop your tricks of political manipulation.

It’s time to end today’s press conference. Thank all the friends from media to join us and all the speakers. See you.