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

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

（December 6, 2021）

Photo taken on December 7, 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

On December 7, 2021, the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor” was held in Urumqi. Representatives from all walks of life and areas in Xinjiang were invited to attend the conference. They strongly refuted the so-called “forced labor” fallacy concocted by anti-China forces in the United States and the West through their speech on the facts about the voluntary employment and decent work of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

Host: Good morning, fellow media reporters. Welcome to the press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. I’m Hailati, the host of the press conference.

Photo taken on December 7, 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 in today’s press conference. They are Ms. Gulimila Aini, a teacher of School of Political Science and Law of Xinjiang Normal University, Mr. Wubuli’aisan Wubulikasimu, Vice President of Xinjiang Garment Industry Association, Mr. Yasen Tu’ersun, Secretary of the Party branch of Laoguang Village, Ruokeya Township, Minfeng County, Mr. Maihemuti Maitikasen, a migrant worker in Aksu City, Aksu Prefecture, Mr. Reheman Tuxun, a tomato grower in Naimenmodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Mr. Tu’ergong Sadi’er, Hajib of the Jumah mosque in Tazileke Village, Pilale Township, Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, Mr. Abuduwa’ersi Maitusong, a migrant worker in Luopu County, Hotan Prefecture, Mr. Tusunjiang Tulufu, a graduate of the former vocational education and training center of Zepu County, Mr. Simayi Aidaiyituli, Imam of the Mosque of Gobi community in Hongxing block, Gaochang District, Turpan City, Mr. Julaiti Ku’erban, Vice President of Fellowship Association for the New Social Stratum in Xinjiang and General Manager of Xinjiang Chiyuan Tianhe Limited Liability Certified Public Accountants Firm.

Next, I would like to make some comments on the fallacy of “forced labor” in Xinjiang concocted by anti-China forces in the United States and the West.

In the white paper Employment and Labor Rights in Xinjiang issued by the Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and the Investigation Report on Labor and Employment of Ethnic Minorities in Xinjiang issued by Xinjiang Development Research Center, facts of “voluntary employment” and “decent work” of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang are expounded with detailed data, true and vivid cases and field visits. The two papers also expounds the fact that the employment policy of Xinjiang fully respects the wishes of workers concerning employment, protects the basic rights of workers in accordance with the law, and helps the people of Xinjiang create a wonderful life. At the press conference held in the past, migrant workers from all walks of life also told the story on their voluntary employment, stable employment, poverty alleviation and prosperity.

Here, I would like to emphasize the following points. First, the labor and employment of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are protected by law. Xinjiang has always followed the principle of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization and relevant conventions, strictly implemented laws and regulations such as the Labor Law of the People’s Republic Of China, the Opinions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the Implementation of the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Measures of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the Implementation of the Regulations on Labor Security Supervision, so as to bring the establishment, operation, supervision and mediation of labor relations into the track of legalization. Besides, forced labor by means of violence, threat or illegal restriction of personal freedom is prohibited. Secondly, The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are completely free to decide in employment. They have the freedom to choose their careers. They are free to decide where to go to work and what job they take, and thus their personal freedom has never been restricted. What the government does is to create a better environment for labor and employment, create conditions for the people of all ethnic groups to find satisfactory jobs and obtain stable income, and ensure the labor and employment rights of the people of all ethnic groups to the greatest extent. Thirdly, the labor rights and interests of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are protected in accordance with the law. Their rights to labor remuneration, rest and vacation, labor safety and health, social insurance and welfare are all protected in accordance with the law. In Xinjiang or other provinces, the rights and interests of workers of all ethnic groups, from religious belief and ethnic culture to language, are respected and protected in accordance with the law.

The press conference held today is to let facts speak and see who is implementing forced labor and who is protecting people’s labor rights and interests, so as to make the truth known to the world.

Host: First of all, let’s invite Ms. Gulimila Aini, a teacher of the School of Political Science and Law of Xinjiang Normal University, to comment on the issue.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Gulimila Aini speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Gulimila Aini: Hello, my name is Gulimila Aini. I am a teacher of the School of Political Science and Law of Xinjiang Normal University. Recently, out of ideological prejudice and the political conspiracy of “containing China with Xinjiang related issues”, anti-China forces in the United States and the West once again hyped the lie of so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang and deliberately discredited the human rights situation in Xinjiang, China with a futile attempted to undermine the security and stability of Xinjiang and hinder China’s development. This is a despicable act!

Firstly, the United States and the West have never really showed their care to human rights in Xinjiang, an what they care about is their “hegemony”. The United States and the West show unusual “concern” for Xinjiang affairs, but do they really care about the “human rights” of the 25.85 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang? From 1990 to the end of 2016, many violent terrorist incidents broke out in Xinjiang, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. At that time, the United States and the West were indifferent to human rights in Xinjiang and turned a blind eye to the terrorists’ indiscriminate killing of innocent people. Now, Xinjiang has made great achievements in counter-terrorism and people of all ethnic groups are enjoying security, stability, prosperity and development. However, at this time, the United States and the West turn a deaf ear to the achievements made in the area of human rights protection in Xinjiang. They claim that they care about and protect the rights of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, but they have repeatedly restricted and suppressed enterprises in Xinjiang by means of wanton crackdown and sanctions. Isn’t it to deprive the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang of their right to pursue a better life through legal labor?

Under the banner of human rights and counter-terrorism, the United States and the West grossly interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and launch overseas wars, which has caused irreparable war wounds to relevant countries and regions. This is an outright violation and trampling against human rights. The United States is indifferent to their own problems involving unequal rights of ethnic minorities, high poverty rate, systematic racial discrimination and violent law enforcement by judicial and law enforcement departments, and the proliferation of guns. In the final analysis, the United States adopts “double standard” to a great extent because what they really care about is their own hegemony, never the human rights in Xinjiang. Morally or practically, the United States is not qualified to wantonly lecture on the human rights in other countries. Under the guise of “human rights”, their purpose is to stir up a sensitive issue of the international community and mislead world opinion, so as to achieve their sinister purpose of curbing the economic and social development of Xinjiang, China. Such wishful thinking is obviously in line with the national strategy of the United States.

Secondly, the people of Xinjiang have the most say in deciding whether there is forced labor or not in Xinjiang. The so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang concocted by the United States and the West is a groundless slander and the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang know best and have the most say in it. Mr. Yusupujiang Abudlkadi’er, a cotton picker in Pishan County, answered the question of so-called “forced labor in Xinjiang” at the press conference on Xinjiang related issues like this: I used to be a cotton picker and now I am a farmer. I was engaged in cotton picking in Aksu every year from 2013. Aksu Cotton Farmers Association provides free accommodation and meals for cotton pickers. I could earn more than 10,000 yuan in a cotton picking season. We don’t need to be forced to do such a profitable thing! With the continuous popularization of mechanized cotton planting, the cotton farmers I know have shifted to planting machine-picked cotton since 2019, so they don’t need many cotton picking hands. Therefore, I didn’t go to Aksu to pick cotton. With my savings earned from cotton picking and farming in recent years, I bought nearly 200 sheep and began my familiar life of animal husbandry and planting. This vivid example is more than enough to show that the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang do not need to be forced by others to work, make money and create a better life with their own hands.

Thirdly, Xinjiang fully guarantees the right to work and employment for the people of all ethnic groups. Xinjiang has always followed the principles of the Constitution of The International Labour Organization and relevant conventions, strictly implemented the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations, and strictly prohibited forced labor by means of violence, threat or illegal restriction of personal freedom. In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang sign labor contracts with the enterprises and obtain corresponding remuneration on the basis of equality, voluntariness and negotiation. Employees enjoy the right to rest and vacation, the right to labor safety and health protection, and the right to social insurance and welfare according to law. There is no discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender and religious belief. Adhering to taking employment promoting as the largest livelihood project, Xinjiang has formulated and implemented a series of local policies and regulations on the ground of the actual regional conditions, constantly improving various employment promotion policies. Xinjiang has made continuous effort in widening employment channels, building employment information platform and creating good labor and employment environment. Xinjiang regularly carries out surveys on workers’ employment willingness in order to timely grasp workers’ needs, and promote long-term stable employment.

The so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang concocted by anti-China forces in the United States and the West is a political lie with ulterior motives. We express our strong opposition and condemnation. The conspiracy of the anti-China forces in the United States and the West to bring disaster and chaos to Xinjiang and “contain China with Xinjiang” will never succeed.

Host: Thank you for your comments. Now Mr. Wubuli’aisan Wubulikasimu, Vice President of Xinjiang Garment (Clothing) Industry Association, will share his views on this issue.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Wubuli’aisan Wubulikasimu speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Wubuli’aisan Wubulikasimu: Hello, my name is Wubuli’aisan Wubulikasimu. I am the vice president of Xinjiang Garment (Clothing) Industry Association. Recently, the anti-China forces in the United States and the West deliberately fabricated fallacies and distorted facts on the grounds of so-called “forced labor” to suppress and sanction garment enterprises in Xinjiang. On behalf of Xinjiang Garment (Clothing) Industry Association, garment enterprises and all employees in Xinjiang, I express strong indignation and opposition!

Xinjiang Garment (Clothing) Industry Association is a community organization which provides services for Xinjiang garment enterprises, and has always been committed to safeguarding the legitimate rights of employees. We have made full use of a series of preferential policies and measures issued by the government to support the development of the garment industry, increase employment opportunities, and help the rural surplus labor force find employment independently in local or nearby places and enter the city for employment in an orderly manner. We strictly require enterprises to recruit employment-age workers in accordance with the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China and other laws and regulations. Employees can independently select employers according to the job information, working environment, salary and welfare advertised by enterprises, so as to realize their independent “two-way choice”.

Xinjiang garment enterprises sign labor contracts with employees on the basis of equality and voluntariness in accordance with the Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws and regulations. Enterprises should regulate their production in accordance with the working hour system determined by the relevant provisions of the Rules of the State Council on Working Hours of Employees. The salary and incentive system should be in conformity with the principle of distribution according to work and more pay for more work. The enterprise pays the corresponding salary according to the completion of employees’ production tasks, and purchases the “five insurances” in full and on time. At the same time, the enterprise provides skills training channels, continuously improving the development space of employees, gradually improves the income of employees, and helps guarantee poverty alleviation for poverty-stricken families with employment of only one family member. For example, the average annual per capita income of the employment-age labor force in Kashgar is more than 30,000 yuan, much higher than the income from farming alone. Through hard work, employees have improved the financial conditions of their families and significantly enhanced their sense of fulfillment and happiness.

Xinjiang garment enterprises fully respect the freedom of employment and personal freedom of ethnic minority employees, their right to freedom of religious belief, their right to use their own language, and their customs and habits. Enterprises provide free accommodation and food for ethnic minority employees. The enterprises have also bought recreational and sports facilities which are used in the parties, games and fellowship meetings, festivals, dinner parties, seminars and other activities, and the employees’ life in their leisure time is constantly being enriched.

Over the years, there has been a good momentum in the development of garment industry in Xinjiang. Enterprises have provided a large number of jobs, actively helping people of all ethnic groups to work and obtain employment, fully protected the legitimate rights and interests of employees of all ethnic groups, and significantly improved the living standards of employees of all ethnic groups. There is no so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang garment enterprises. Any rumors and slanders can not wipe out the fact that employees of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang garment enterprises create a happy life through their diligent hands.

Host: Thanks to Mr. Wubuli’aisan Wubulikasimu, the vice president. Next, Mr. Yasen Tu’ersun, Secretary of the Party branch of Laoguang Village, Ruokeya Township, Minfeng County will share his views on this issue.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Yasen Tu’ersun 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 Tu’ersun: My name is Yasen Tu’ersun. I am Secretary of the Party branch of Laoguang Village, Ruokeya Township, Minfeng County. When I heard the slander of “forced labor” in Xinjiang spread by the anti-China forces in the United States and the west, I was very angry. Can’t the anti-China forces in the United States and the West see the wonderful life of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang today? How can such groundless and vicious remarks come out of their tongue?

As a secretary of the village Party branch, I personally experienced and witnessed the improvement and changes in the work and life of the people of all ethnic groups. Our villagers, as the denotation of the name of this village suggests, understand the simple truth that work is the most glorious activity. Over the years, we have worked with the masses in the fields and created better living conditions and turned our village into a clean and tidy residential area through our own hands. We have planted peppers, which has driven more than 70 households and 120 people in the village to increase their income and get a well off life. I am very happy to see that the people around me have been lifted out of poverty and their lives are increasingly prosperous day by day. This is the most glorious work. How can it be “forced labor”?

With the support of a series of government policies to benefit the people, our living standards have been improved year by year in recent years. In the village, some people are running a shop. They have developed gradually with honesty and integrity and lived a good life. Some people have bought an apartment with the money they have earned through their lasting employment. Some others have learned technical skills and make money with their working skills. Now, many villagers have bought cars and are enjoying their happy life, and young people are not troubled by the worry that they can not find a girlfriend and get married. More and more people choose to go out to work. Some work in neighboring counties, some in northern Xinjiang and some others in other provinces and cities. They set out with confidence and returned home with a satisfied smile and good remuneration. Many women in our village have grown from housewives who don’t earn a penny to industrial workers. They make money through their work and support their families with their own hands. Now their life is full of vigor, vitality and confidence.

However, the anti-China forces in the United States and the west are selectively blind to the happy life of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. They deliberately fabricate lies, confusing the right and wrong, and attack and smear Xinjiang without any basis in a futile attempt to undermine the prosperity and stability of Xinjiang and realize their sinister plot of “containing China with Xinjiang”. Their ugly acts pose a serious offense to the 25.85 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang who live and work together in harmony, and build a beautiful Xinjiang with their diligent hands. The anti-China forces are destined to be nailed to the stigma of history.

Host: Thanks to Mr. Yasen Tu’erson. Next, Mr. Maihemuti Maitikasen, a migrant worker in Aksu City, Aksu Prefecture, will share his views.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Maihemuti Maitikasen speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Maihemuti Maitikasen: My name is Maihemuti Maitikasen. I live in Hongqipo Community, Aksu City. Before 2019, the income of our family solely came from the 6 mu of apple orchard, only 20,000-30,000 yuan a year, barely enough for our family.

In order to help us live a better life, the community workers teach us employment skills, encourage us to go out to work, increase our income and get well off. They help hold job fairs to provide employment opportunities for us. In July 2019, I saw a fruit processing enterprise recruit workers at the job fair. I thought this job was good, so I wanted to have a try and work hard to make more money in order that my family would have a better life.

After I passed the recruitment interview, got the job, and signed a labor contract with the company, I participated in a training lasting half a month and mastered the skills of apple sorting and grading. At work, my coach was teaching me very patiently. In this way, I quickly improved my working skills and performance. Now I can get 3,300 yuan per month. I have met many colleagues here. Like me, they came to the company through recruitment. Our salary is about 3000 yuan. In addition, we have performance salary which is determined by our work performance and output. Some of my colleagues who came here a few years earlier than I can get 4,500 yuan because of their good working skill. The company also buy “five insurances and one fund” for us. When we were hospitalized for illness, the company cover the additional 20% of the medical expenses, in addition to the medical expenses reimbursed by the state. After I tasted the flavor of the benefits of employment in the enterprise, I mobilized my wife to go to the recruitment for a job in the company. After my wife came to work in the company, the company assigned us a temporary apartment with good conditions.

In addition to the income from apples every year, our family has an income of more than 80,000 yuan, which was unthinkable in the past. In June 2020, I gave my parents 10,000 yuan and asked them to have a tour lasting more than ten days in Karamay, Altay and other places. They visited the legendary ghost city, and took a boat trip to Kanas Lake, the “fairyland on earth”, for the first time. They were very happy. I also bought my wife a gold ring she had been dreaming of with my savings. Next year, we are going to buy an apartment. In the summer of sweet and fragrant fruits and melons, we will invite our colleagues to our house to see my beautiful house and show them my cooking skills. Now think about it, how could our family have such a good life without the national policy of benefiting the people and the help of the community?

Anti-China forces in the United States and the West say that we are subjected to “forced labor”. This is nonsense! It’s our freedom to do whatever work anywhere in our own country. Who will refuse the job that can provide you with decent pay and good working environment? If I had been forced to do my job, how could I mobilize my wife to work there? Stop talking about nonsense blindly.

Host: Thanks to Mr. Maihemuti Maitikasen. Next, Mr. Reheman Tuxun, a tomato grower in Naimenmodun Town, Hejing County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, will share his views.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Reheman Tuxun speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Reheman Tuxun: Hello, I’m Reheman Tuxun, a villager from Naimenmodun Town, Hejing County.

My family planted 40 mu of tomatoes this year, with a total output of 480 tons. Because the price is better than that last year, 0.5 yuan per kilogram, we have got a gross income of about 250,000 yuan. Now tomatoes are planted and harvested mechanically, which not only saves time and labor, but also saves a lot of harvesting costs. This has relieved me from worries that the tomatoes would go rotten in the fields in case of delayed harvest. I plan to contract another 100 mu of field next year to expand planting and increase income.

At the beginning of the year, we signed a contract with the ketchup factory. The harvesters got the tomatoes into our tractors. We directly transported them to the ketchup factory and sold the tomatoes to them. The factory processed these tomatoes into ketchup and sold it in many paces. The bottled ketchup we usually buy and the ketchup used in hamburgers are produced by these factories. Our tomatoes are very delicious. They are all natural, growing in the sun. With rich pulp in red color, the tomatoes taste a little sour and a little sweet. They are good ingredient for making Xinjiang noodles. These ketchup are sold to cities outside Xinjiang, and some of them are also exported abroad. Our tomatoes are very good and in short supply.

We farmers have a bumper harvest and live a good life with the money we have earned. I’m very happy about it. There’s a song called We Common People Are Really Happy Today. I’ll sing a few words for you… This is my feeling. Now my family has also bought a car. We have an earthquake resistant house in the village and an apartment in the county proper. In summer, I live in the village to do some farming. In winter, I live in the county proper. I stroll around the county, visiting bazaar, dining with my friends and outing together. I like this life very much with contentment.

I have heard that the anti-China forces in the United States and the West say that we are subjected to “forced labor”. That is because they are jealous of our happy life. There is an old saying “In spite of dogs’ barking, the camel team is still moving forward”. We are still creating our wonderful future with our glorious work!

Host: Thanks to Mr. Reheman Tuxon for his sharing. Next, Mr. Tu’ergong Sadi’er, Hajib of the Jumah Mosque in Tazileke Village, Pilale Township, Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, will share his views on this issue.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Tu’ergong Sadi’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

Tu’ergong Sadi’er: My name is Tu’ergong Sadi’er. I am a Uygur and 36 years old. I am Hajib of the Jumah Mosque in Tazileke Village, Pilale Township, Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture.

I grew up in a farmer’s family. I remember when I was a child, our house was full of smoke when we got heat from a stove with fuel burning inside it in winter, and the walls of the rooms were blackened after a winter. Because of the poor financial conditions of my family, we couldn’t paint the blackened walls into white every year. In my memory, it was dark in my home. At that time, there was no paved road in the village. It was very muddy in rainy and snowy days on the roads and there were no street lamps on the roadside. At night, it was pitch dark everywhere in the village. At that time we had to depend on cattle to plough in the field. A small patch of field involved at least three people’s labor lasting several days. The most difficult task is to water the crops. It was not easy to get irrigation water. In the process of irrigation, we had to be on watch all night.

In recent years, the state has issued one good policy after another to benefit the people. Great changes have taken place in my hometown. Asphalt roads with street lamps have been build in every village and small plots of land have been turned into large and wide strips of land. Drip irrigation does not involve the watch all night. As long as the seeds of crops are sowed, all the other work afterwards is completed by machinery, which has given us more time and energy to go out to work and increase our income. The government has numerous policies to benefit the people. Every year, all the people have free physical examination, and the proportion of hospitalization reimbursement is also very high. Every household has access to tap water, and good policies such as free education have brought great convenience to our life. Taking my family for example, I have enjoyed the policies of benefiting the people including fund from housing project, tap water, paved roads to the gate of my house and household electricity. In 2015, I was appointed as a religious staff in our village. In 2018, I went to Xinjiang Islamic Institute to get an education of two-year college program. Now I am thinking about how to educate my children well and encourage them to study hard to repay the country and society in the future.

Recently, I frequently heard that anti-China forces in the United States and the West have published the fallacy that “the Uygurs in Xinjiang are subjected to oppression and forced labor”. This is completely a lie.

I am a Uygur. No one has ever forced me to work. Uygurs, like other ethnic groups, have deep love for life. We work to create a better life. Many young people in our village are actively looking for jobs and making money with their diligent hands. Do we need others to force us to bring well off and happy life to our family with our own work? In my opinion, what is behind the so-called “forced labor” lie is that the anti-China forces in the United States and the west do not allow the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to live a good life. They are restless and plotting to make trouble for us at the sight of the stable and prosperous Xinjiang. The eyes of the masses are sharp and widely open, and we will never be blinded by their lies. We will never allow anyone to destroy our hard won happy life.

Host: Thanks to Mr. Tu’ergong sadi’er. Next, Mr. Abuduwa’ersi Maitusong, a migrant worker in Lop County, Hotan Prefecture, will share his story.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Abuduwa’ersi Maitusong speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Abuduwa’ersi Maitusong: My name is Abuduwa’ersi Maitusong. I am from Lop County, Hotan Prefecture. Now I work in a construction company in Urumqi with a monthly salary of 4,500 yuan.

At the beginning of this year, I saw the recruitment information from a construction company in Urumqi in the village. I thought this job was good and suitable for me, so I signed up. Through the recruitment interview, I went to work in this company and signed a labor contract. Here I have met a lot of friends. Like me, they came to the company through recruitment. Some of my colleagues came here a few years earlier than I and we have never heard that anyone has ever been subjected to “forced labor”.

After working in the company, I was particularly excited because the environment and conditions in the company were particularly good. There is a halal canteen, and the food is better than that in my home. The company has arranged a comfortable dormitory for us. We like the working and living environment here very much. During the leisure time, I sometimes ask a few friends to go out for fun. There are many interesting places in Urumqi.

Days ago, I visited my family in Hotan by taking advantage of my vacation. They all said that I had become fashionable and more optimistic than before, and I was more capable of making money. I was very happy when I hear their praise. I will continue to work hard here, learn skills and promote my ability. One day when I have saved enough money, I will go back to my hometown and open a household decoration company to give my family a better life.

We are not forced to go out to work, as the anti-China forces in the United States and the West falsely claimed. We are completely voluntary. How come money making is forced? Do we need to be forced by others to go out to work to earn more money, learn more skills and change our lives with our own hands? They said that “if we refuse employment, we will meet punishment”. It is sheer nonsense.

Host: Thanks to Mr. Abuduwa’ersi Maitusong. Next, Mr. Tusunjiang Tulufu, a graduate student of the former vocational education and training center of Zepu County, will share his story.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Tusunjiang Tulufu speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Tusunjiang Tulufu: My name is Tusunjiang Tulufu. I am a graduate student of the former vocational education and training center in Zepu County, Kashgar Prefecture. Now I am the boss of an information technology service trade Co., Ltd.

I used to be a freight driver. At that time, some people around me often enticed me into participating in the underground religious preaching organized by them. Slowly, I developed hatred to “pagans” and even tried every means to find illegal channels to go abroad for “Jihad martyrdom to enter into heaven”. When my family saw that I was addicted to audio and video of violence and terrorism all day, they were very worried, so they advised me to go to the vocational education and training center for learning and training.

When I came to the vocational education and training center, I saw buildings, flowers, greenery and spacious and bright classrooms. There, I learned courses on the standard spoken and written Chinese, legal knowledge, vocational skills and de-radicalization. In particular, by studying laws and regulations, I understood the harm of religious extremist ideas, and that the so-called “Imams” are not religious people at all, but outright extremists. What they talked about was not religious teachings, but extremist ideas. Their purpose is to reduce us to “cannon fodder” to achieve their ulterior purpose.

Our school has provided a very rich life for our spare time. There are libraries, entertainment rooms and interest classes in the school. Teachers teach us dance and singing. We often hold parties and sports games such as basketball game, volleyball game and literary and artistic performances. The school also has an infirmary with doctors on duty 24 hours. The school respects our customs very much. The canteen provides us with a wide variety of nutritious halal meals free of charge every day. When they return home, religious students can participate in normal religious activities in the mosque.

In August 2019, after I graduated from school, I successfully got a job in an information technology company with my computer knowledge obtained in the vocational education and training center. I signed a labor contract and the company purchased “five insurances and one fund” for me. Through my gradual efforts, I was promoted from an ordinary employee to a middle management position, with a monthly salary of about 5,000 yuan. In January 2021, I started my own business, established my own technology information company and became the boss. The company has 6 employees with an average salary of 3,500 yuan. Now I have made some achievements in my career, and got a girlfriend and I am going to get married at the end of this year. I am very satisfied with my current life.

I think I am lucky and happy. My classmates in the vocational education and training center also believe that if we had not studied in the vocational education and training center, we might have been more and more seriously poisoned and we can’t imagine what kind of people we would have been reduced to. It was the vocational education and training center that pulled us out of the quagmire of religious extremism. Without the skills learned in the vocational education and training center, we couldn’t have a good life today. The false claim made by anti-China forces in the United States and the West that the former vocational education and training center forced trainees to work is concocted out of thin air with ulterior motives.

Host: Thanks to Mr. Tusunjiang Tulufu. Next, Mr. Simayi Aidaiyituli, Imam of the Mosque of Gobi community in Hongxing block, Gaochang District, Turpan City, will share his views on this issue.

Photo taken on December 7, 2021 shows Simayi Aidaiyituli speaks at the special press conference of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on refuting the allegation of “forced labor”. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Tang Yong

Simayi Aidaiyituli: Hello, I’m Simayi Aidaiyituli, Imam of the Mosque of Gobi community in Hongxing block, Gaochang District, Turpan City.

Recently, anti-China forces in the United States and the West have wantonly spread the fallacy that there is massive “forced labor” in Xinjiang. As a patriotic religious personage, I express my firm opposition and strong condemnation!

As a native of Xinjiang, I have witnessed great changes in the life of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang under the care and support of the Party and the government. Everyone lives a happy life through work and employment. I now live in an apartment with access to tap water. In addition, I have a car, a smart phone, and all kinds of household appliances at home. Such a prosperous life today was beyond my imagination in the past.

At the same time, as a religious figure, I have witnessed the freedom of religious belief enjoyed by the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, the normal development of religious activities in Xinjiang and the harmony in the religious area in Xinjiang. Governments at all levels in Xinjiang have given meticulous care to religious staff. All religious people are included in the social security system, enjoying medical insurance, endowment insurance, serious illness insurance and personal accident injury insurance, and have a free physical examination every year. During the Roza Festival and Corban Festival, many government leaders pay a holiday visit to us religious people, making friends with us and helping us solve many problems.

At present, Xinjiang has a stable and peaceful society where people are living and working in peace and contentment, and the people of all ethnic groups have a growing sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. However, anti-China forces in the United States and the West have frequently attacked the human rights situation in Xinjiang and slandered our policy of governing Xinjiang with the pretext of so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang. Their real purpose is to produce ethnic estrangement and undermine our current harmonious and stable life. We will never be fooled!

There is a Uygur proverb that says, “whoever plays with fire will burn his hands”! As a beneficiary of the good national policy, I would like to warn those U.S. and Western anti-China forces with ulterior motives that any trick to disrupt Xinjiang will fail and will only make the overall social situation in Xinjiang more stable; Any attempt to split Xinjiang will only make the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang more united; Any conspiracy to destroy Xinjiang will only make Xinjiang move forward with more sonorous and firm pace!

Host: Thanks to Mr. Simayi Aidaiyituli. Next, Mr. Julaiti Ku’erban, Vice President of Fellowship Association for the New Social Stratum in Xinjiang and General Manager of Xinjiang Chiyuan Tianhe Limited Liability Certified Public Accountants Firm, will share his view.

Julaiti Ku’erban: My name is Julaiti Ku’erban. I am the general manager of Xinjiang Chiyuan Tianhe Limited Liability Certified Public Accountants Firm.

Recently, anti-China forces in the United States and the West have frequently published fallacies related to Xinjiang, falsely claiming that “there is oppression and forced labor against Uygurs in Xinjiang”. As an ordinary Uygur, I strongly condemn and resolutely oppose such groundless and sinister remarks.

The people of all ethnic groups living here are most qualified to judge Xinjiang. The truth is that the Chinese government earnestly guarantees employees’ equal employment rights. In Xinjiang, workers of all ethnic groups can not be discriminated against because of ethnicity, gender, region and religious belief. Workers of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang choose occupations by their own wishes. In accordance with the Labor Law of the People's Republic of China and other laws and regulations, and on the basis of equality and voluntariness, they sign labor contracts with relevant enterprises according to law and obtain corresponding remuneration. They also enjoy full freedom in choosing their employment places. The rights of workers of all ethnic groups, such as the right to labor remuneration, the right to rest and vacation, the right to labor safety and health protection, and the right to social insurance and welfare, are protected according to law. In Xinjiang or other provinces, the rights and interests of workers of all ethnic groups, from religious belief and ethnic culture to language, are respected and protected according to the law, and there is no “forced labor” at all. The role for government is to forge a sound working environment and assist people of all ethnic groups to find satisfying jobs with stable payment and safeguard their rights in employment to the utmost.

Not to mention that the United States has a history of trafficking, maltreatment and discrimination against black slaves for hundreds of years, and has committed extremely serious crimes, Only in recent years, the United States has witnessed widespread human trafficking, common forced labor taking place frequently in agricultural area and private prisons, widespread abuse of child labor, repeated violations of the labor rights and interests of women and the disabled, and continued deterioration of discrimination in employment. The numerous crimes are shocking and heinous. We believe that the so-called “beacon of democracy”, with which the United States flaunts itself, should first illuminate itself. The so-called “guardian of human rights” should first protect the human rights of its people. The so-called “paradise of freedom” should bring true happiness to its people.

Host: Thanks to Julaiti Ku’erban for the sharing.

Host: In Xinjiang, there are many examples of people of all ethnic groups who have got a happy life by increasing their income through employment with their diligent hands and intelligence. Now, please watch a video clip.

Host: The so-called “oppression” and “forced labor” against Uygur people in Xinjiang is completely a lie. At present, Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic development, ethnic unity and religious harmony. The people of all ethnic groups live and work in peace and happiness. Their rights and interests granted by law are fully guaranteed. The so-called “human rights issue” in Xinjiang is a naked political conspiracy. Its real intention is to undermine the prosperity and stability of Xinjiang and hinder China’s development. The political manipulation under the guise of human rights is doomed to fail, and has also been widely resisted and opposed by the international community.

That’s the end of today’s press conference. Thanks to fellow reporters for your participation. Thanks to speakers. Goodbye!