The 69th Press Conference on Xinjiang-Related Issues by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

(On March 1st , Beijing)

Photo taken on March 1, 2022 shows the 69th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Beijing. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zheng Zhuo

Xu Guixiang: Good morning, dear friends from the press. Welcome to the press conference on Xinjiang-related issues by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. I am Xu Guixiang, spokesperson of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. First of all, I would like to introduce the attendees of this press conference. They are Mr. Elijan Anayat, spokesperson of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Mr. Wang Langtao, vice president of the Higher People's Court of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Ms. Aynur Mahsat, chairwoman of the Women's Federation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Next, I would like to share my views on relevant issues.

Photo taken on March 1, 2022 shows Xu Guixiang, spokesman of People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks at the 69th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Beijing. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zheng Zhuo

Xu Guixiang: Nowadays, China is moving closer to the center of the world stage, which has aroused the strong discomfort of the anti-China forces in the US and other Western countries. As a result, they have intensified to conduct their scheme of“Containing China by Disrupting Xinjiang". They have politicized, labeled and stigmatized the governance measures taken in Xinjiang, and even claimed the existence of "genocide" and "forced labor" in Xinjiang. Such brass-visaged deeds have seriously distorted from the truth, defamed the image of Xinjiang and misled the international perception of Xinjiang.

Xinjiang is a credible, lovely and respectable place. Every year, hundreds of millions of domestic and international tourists flock to Xinjiang for its vast territory, abundant resources and exquisite scenery. Especially with arduous efforts, the status of local residents' basic human rights being frequently disturbed by terrorists’ activities endangering people’s lives and property has been improved. The condition of extreme poverty due to poor natural conditions and lack of working skills over the past period has been changed, so has been the condition of rampant, religious extremist ideology overflow agitated by "three forces". It has ushered in economic development, social stability, improved people's livelihood, cultural prosperity, ethnic unity and religious harmony. The changes in Xinjiang are profound, the story of Xinjiang is fascinating, and the image of Xinjiang is bright. All these are being fully and vividly presented to the world in detail.

Over the years, we have sincerely and candidly introduced the truth about Xinjiang to the world. We have issued 12 white papers including the Counter-Terrorism, Eradication of Extremism, and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang, Some Historical Problems in Xinjiang which systematically elaborated the counter-terrorism in Xinjiang, extremism eradication, population, history, culture, religion, nationality, labor, human rights and other areas. The official documents have covered a series of major theoretical, political and practical issues, with authoritative voice occupying the heights of public opinion. We have regularly held nearly 70 press conferences on Xinjiang-related issues, which served to respond to the concerns of the press in a point-to-point, face-to-face, person-to-person, and case-to-case manner. We have directly responded to the concerns of domestic and foreign media and journalists, thus released Xinjiang-related information in a more proactive, timely and intensive manner. We have sincerely invited more than 150 groups including UN officials and foreign diplomatic envoys as well as more than 2,000 people from more than 100 countries and regions to visit Xinjiang. In the field visit, through dialogue and confrontation, the visiting guests have seen the truth, which helped to eliminate the doubts and enhanced the understanding, condensing the consensus when the visitors really witnessed the peoples’ flourishing life. We have won their sincere appreciation for Xinjiang's governance. Together with Chinese diplomatic missions overseas, we have held a series of video sessions entitled "Xinjiang is a Wonderful Land" for UN agencies, so that foreign diplomatic missions and people from various countries have been able to share our plans and experience on governing Xinjiang . We have produced and released a series of documentaries, such as The Historical Imprint of Xinjiang, and Documentary on Religious Beliefs in Xinjiang. We have also produced cultural works in various forms, such as micro films, books, exhibitions, music, dance and cartoons, so that foreign people can feel the charm of Xinjiang. We have been even more pleased to see that millions of people of all ethnic groups, migrant workers, intellectuals and religious personages in Xinjiang have spontaneously spoken up for Xinjiang in front of microphones and cameras, jointly presenting a Xinjiang where people's livelihood has been improved and human rights have been protected from the perspective of ordinary people, through their own experiences, personal stories and plain language.

The just cause of Xinjiang has been praised and affirmed by the international community. The people of insight have voiced their support to Xinjiang. Some have supported the effects of work in Xinjiang on-site; some have written the books about the trip in Xinjiang to tell the story to the whole world; Some have published signed articles in the worldwide mainstream media to introduce Xinjiang based on objective facts; Some have voiced on international multilateral occasions to defend Xinjiang with the truth. In Particular, in July 2019, permanent Representatives of 50 countries in Geneva sent a joint letter to the President of the UN Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner on Human Rights, praising China's achievements in counter-terrorism, deradicalization and human rights protection. In October 2019, during the third Committee of the 74^th Session of the UN General Assembly, more than 60 countries made joint and individual statements to commend the tremendous progress in human rights protection in Xinjiang, China. At the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva in July 2020, Belarus, on behalf of 46 countries, made a joint statement in support of China's position, practices and achievements on Xinjiang-related issues. In October 2020, at the Third Committee of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, nearly 50 countries supported China's measures in Xinjiang and opposed the attacks and smearing against China by some Western countries. At the UN Human Rights Council in 2021, nearly 100 countries voiced to support China's legitimate position on Xinjiang-related issues through joint statements, individual statements and letters. Under the influence of those, more and more people in the international community have expressed their support to Xinjiang, therefore, the international public opinion on Xinjiang has undergone profound changes.

The US has fabricated the existence of "genocide" and "forced labor" in Xinjiang, which is actually their self-portrait. As the world can see, the tragedy of American Indians is still prevailing; Black people are still yelling "I can't breathe"; The social wounds caused by the "Muslim ban" are still being torn; Forced labor in private prisons is still rampant, and human rights under COVID-19 are still deteriorating. The "beautiful scenery" they have painstakingly depicted in other countries is now in full swing in their own country. As the Chinese saying goes “you reap what you sow”.. Xinjiang will run its own affairs well as always, and the plots of the US and Western anti-China forces is doomed to go bankrupt.

Xu Guixiang: Before this press conference, some media called us to inquire about issues of Xinjiang. In today's press conference, we will concentrate on responding and communicating with you.

First of all, there is a letter from the media which has pointed out that it has been more than two months since the adjustment of the main leaders of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. They would like to know what changes have been made in Xinjiang's governance policy?

Xu Guixiang：Let me answer this question.

The adjustment of the main leaders of the Party Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region fully reflects the great importance attached by the Party Central Committee with President Xi Jinping at the core to the work of Xinjiang as well as the sincere hope for social stability and long-term stability in Xinjiang. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will fully support and resolutely respond to this.

The Party Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region stresses that efforts are to be made to implement the spirit of the Third Central Symposium on the Work of Xinjiang, together with the spirit conveyed in the important speech and guidance made by President Xi Jinping on the work of Xinjiang, with full and accurate implementation of the party's general plan for governing Xinjiang in the new era, firmly grasping the general goal of social stability and long-term stability, adhering to the rule of law, uniting and stabilizing Xinjiang, enriching Xinjiang with culture, enriching the people and prospering Xinjiang, and building Xinjiang as a long term goal, thus to strive to build a socialistic Xinjiang with Chinese characteristics in the new era with unity and harmony, prosperity and richness, civilization and progress, peaceful living and working environments, as well as a well-maintained ecology. The following tasks are to be accomplished: First, we adhere to the rule of law and normalization of fighting against terrorism and maintaining stability, staying alert on the fight against separatism and the fight against terrorism and maintaining stability, to improve the anti-terrorism and maintaining stability legal system, optimize and improve the anti-terrorism and maintaining stability command system to ensure that the overall social situation of Xinjiang is continually stable. We will never allow the loss of hard-won stability. Secondly, we need to focus on the people, promote high-quality economic and social development in Xinjiang. We will continuously optimize the business environment, vigorously protect and improve people's livelihood, and constantly meet the people's needs for a better life. Thirdly, we adhere to the rule of law in Xinjiang. We hold high the banner of socialist rule of law, comprehensively promote the construction of Xinjiang under the rule of law, earnestly enhance the awareness of the rule of law, make greater efforts to govern Xinjiang in accordance with the law, implement the requirements of comprehensively ruling our country according to law in all fields of Xinjiang's work, solidly promote the modernization of governance system and governance capacity, and ensure that the society is full of vitality, stability and order. Fourthly, we adhere to respecting and protecting human rights. We combine the principle of universality of human rights with the reality of Xinjiang, ensure that people of all ethnic groups enjoy extensive, full, real, specific and effective human rights according to law, and constantly improve their senses of achievement, happiness and security. Fifthly, we uphold and carry forward the realistic and pragmatic style, closely integrate with the reality of Xinjiang, establish a correct view of political achievements, respect the objective reality and the needs of the masses, effectively reduce the burden on the grass-roots level, strictly avoid formalism and bureaucracy, better unite the people of all ethnic groups and jointly build a better Xinjiang.

Xu Guixiang: We have received letters from media, saying that the U.S. House of Representatives has recently passed “The U.S. Competition Act of 2022”which slanders and discredits the existence of "systematic rape, forced abortion, forced sterilization or involuntary contraception" in Xinjiang, in an attempt to impose new sanctions on relevant officials in Xinjiang. What is the opinion of the spokesman of the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region?

Xu Guixiang: This question will be answered by Elijan Anayat, the spokesman of the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on March 1, 2022 shows Elijan Anayat, spokesman of People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks at the 69th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Beijing. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zheng Zhuo

Elijan Anayat：The U.S. House of Representatives passed the so-called "American Competition Act 2022". The Act is full of cold war mentality and zero sum-concept, and it slanders the development path and the domestic and foreign policies of China, advocates strategic competition with China, and once again exposes the hegemonic and bullying behavior of the United States, which runs counter to the trend of the times and the aspiration of the world for peace, development and cooperation. The relevant contents of the Act have wantonly slandered China's policy of governing Xinjiang and tarnished the image of Xinjiang. We firmly oppose it!

The so-called Act of the U.S. House of Representatives, in the name of competition, carries out containment in essence. It falsely claims that there are "systematic rape, forced abortion, forced sterilization or involuntary contraception" in Xinjiang. In fact, this happens to be a true portrayal of the history of racism in the United States. As we all know, in 1907, Indiana promulgated the first "Eugenic Sterilization Law", which stipulates that "criminals, idiots, rapists and mentally retarded persons detained by the State shall all be forcibly sterilized". Subsequently, other 30 states in the United States also introduced similar laws one after another. According to the law, the authorities could sterilize people that they thought to be "mentally retarded" or "mentally defective", and innocent Indian women were severely affected. The Virginia Sterilization Act promulgated in 1924 became the "model" of the sterilization plan of Nazi Germany in World War II. In 1930, the American Bureau of Indian Affairs adopted the "Indian Health Service" project to sterilize Indian women under the banner of protecting their health. In many cases, those women were unaware of it. More than 42% of them of child-bearing age were sterilized, which directly led to the extinction of many small tribes. By the time the program was canceled in 1976, about 70,000 Indian women had been forcibly sterilized.

Xu Guixiang: We have received letters from media, saying that Margaret McCuaig Johnston, the policy advisor of “Uygur Rights Advocacy Project”, has recently published an article which states that China is now committing genocide in Xinjiang, and few people know how the Uygur children have been affected and people seem to never hear anything about them. So, what's the opinion of the spokesman on this?

Xu Guixiang: This question will be answered by Aynur Mahsat, the chairwoman of the Woman Federation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on March 1, 2022 shows Aynur Mahsat, chairwoman of the Women's Federation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks at the 69th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Beijing. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zheng Zhuo

Aynur Mahsat: The statement of Margaret has no factual basis at all. It’s a total slander. She has never been to Xinjiang. She doesn’t even know about Xinjiang. Relying on mere shattered information and unreasonable suspicion, she posted terrifying fake information on the media, which lacks scientific spirit of abiding by the truth to the least extent.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to children's growth and earnestly protects children's rights to survival, protection, development and participation. For example, on December 29th, 1991, China approved Convention on the Rights of the Child of the United Nations, which fully reflects China's firm determination and confidence in promoting and protecting children's rights. Besides, China has also enacted six laws that provide special protection for children, including The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors, The Law of the People's Republic of China on Compulsory Education and The Law of the People's Republic of China on Maternal and Infant Health Care. Furthermore, Xinjiang has also issued The Children's Development Plan of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2021-2025), which has formulated 69 main objectives and 88 policies and measures in seven areas, including children and health, children and safety, and children and family. The Uygur is a member of the big family of the Chinese nation. The Uygur children are the flowers in the garden of the motherland. They enjoy equal rights together with the children of other ethnic groups and all of them will grow up healthily together.

It must be pointed out that it is terrorist organizations such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) that have done great harm to Uygur children in Xinjiang. Over the past period of time, the ETIM and other terrorist organizations were devoid of conscience to exploit Uygur children in Xinjiang as key targets for the perpetration of violence and terrorism. For example, on June 6, 2012, terrorists put 55 children under house arrest in a residential building in Hotan City and made them watch so-called "jihad" training videos, including training on physical fitness, shooting, and attacks on Chinese police cars. When the police on duty entered the building, the terrorists, believing their crime was exposed, ignited an explosive device hidden inside the house and started a fire. A four-year-old child was held by a terrorist and they jumped from the fifth floor, both of them died on the spot. Some other terrorists detonated explosive devices to obstruct the rescue. Firefighters rescued 54 children, ranging in age from 4 to 13, from the room, which was less than 80 square meters.

Xu Guixiang: To give you a clearer and more direct impression, let's take a look at the video of this event.

Thanks to our relentless fight against terrorism and extremism, Xinjiang has been free from violent terrorist attacks for more than five years in a row. Today, Xinjiang enjoys all-round economic development and sustained social stability. People of all ethnic groups live and work in peace and happiness, which all proved that Uygur children and youth living in China are safe and happy.

Xu Guixiang: Next, please watch a video reflecting the healthy growth of children from several ordinary Uygur families in Xinjiang.

Xu Guixiang: A media correspondent said that on February 3rd, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) published a report entitled “Fair Game: China's Endangered Media Space for Domestic and Foreign Journalists”in 2022", stating that foreign journalists are generally monitored and interfered with when they go to Xinjiang to report, including being followed, monitored, and having their interviews interrupted, as well as being asked by Xinjiang authorities to delete photos and videos. In this regard, what is the spokesperson's opinion?

Xu Guixiang: The report claims to be based on interviews with 19 China-based journalists from nine countries. I would like to know which 19 journalists? I would like to meet them in Beijing or Xinjiang to hear what they did in Xinjiang?

Xinjiang is an open area in China. Foreign journalists are always welcome to Xinjiang for reporting. According to the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on News Coverage by Permanent Offices of Foreign Media Organizations and Foreign Journalists, the lawful rights and interests of permanent officials of foreign media organizations and foreign journalists shall be guaranteed in accordance with the law, and that they shall be facilitated to engage in news interviewing and reporting operations in accordance with the law. Permanent officials of foreign media organizations and foreign journalists shall abide by Chinese laws, regulations and rules, they should follow journalistic ethics, conduct interviews and reports objectively and impartially and refrain from activities incompatible with the nature of their agencies or their status as journalists.

Since the end of 2018, Xinjiang has intensively invited 158 groups of more than 2,000 people from more than 100 countries and regions to visit Xinjiang, and the visitors have seen the real situation of openness, inclusiveness, stable development, ethnic unity, religious harmony and vitality in Xinjiang. In 2021, despite the severe situation of the COVID-19, Xinjiang still received 70 groups of more than 1,000 people to have a visit, including 8 groups of foreign media like journalists stationed in Beijing. The journalists were free to interview whatever and whoever they wanted in Xinjiang, and to cover wherever they wanted.

We also know that a very small number of foreign journalists, while in Xinjiang, are not conducting normal news interviews, but are engaged in something that does not comply with Chinese laws and regulations and violates professional ethics, such as "fake documents to obtain the interview", "corroboration", and "staged crash fraud" activities. For example, in February this year, a reporter from Kyodo News went to Urumqi for an interview without any so-called "tracking" or "interference". However, the journalist posted an article on the official website of the media to which he belonged, entitled "Xinjiang, China, Armored Vehicles on the Move, Uygurs Can't See the Five Interlocked Rings," stating "The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which has been criticized by Europe and the United States for violating the human rights of ethnic minorities, stepped up its security on the opening day of the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 4. In a tense atmosphere, local Uygur residents have no interest in the Olympics, neither watching the opening ceremony nor the games, where human rights and politics cannot be discussed, and where even the Olympics are not a topic to be talked about easily." These reports completely distort the facts and have ulterior motives. Such behavior has no professional ethics and seriously deviates from journalistic ethics, which is scandalous.

Even more surprisingly, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the America COMPETES Act of 2022 recently, which specifically proposes to allocate funds to the infamous Global Media Agency, which is responsible for "propaganda" for the United States, to address the so-called China's "disinformation dissemination". How can these media outlets be called "independent ones" when they are paid by the United States to do the job assigned by the United States? The U.S. pays off the media only to produce and spread China-related rumors. The "freedom of the press" that the U.S. talks about is just a nonsense!

Here, we sincerely hope that journalists will uphold an objective and impartial position, abide by professional ethics, and actively report on Xinjiang, so that the world can know the real situation in Xinjiang. At the same time, we also solemnly declare that if anyone tries to carry out so-called "corroboration" and "staged crash fraud" activities in Xinjiang under the pretext of "human rights" and conduct "guilty presumption" investigations or interviews, interfering with the stable development of Xinjiang and China's internal affairs, we will resolutely hold them accountable.

Xu Guixiang: Recently, there have been media reports that the previous sentencing in Xinjiang in the case of the problematic textbooks sentenced a group of officials, including the former head of the Education Department, Shatar Shawuti, the former deputy director and the former president of the Xinjiang Education Publishing House, to prison for writing textbooks that authorities believe promote terrorism and separatist ideology. What is Xinjiang's response to this?

Xu Guixiang: This question will be answered by Mr. Wang Langtao, Vice President of the High People's Court of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Photo taken on March 1, 2022 shows Wang Langtao, vice president of the Higher People's Court of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region speaks at the 69th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Beijing. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zheng Zhuo

Wang Langtao: On April 6, 2021, we held a special press conference on Xinjiang-related issues in Urumqi and announced the criminal facts of the secessionist criminal group led by Shatar Shawuti, unveiling the "textbook conspiracy". Today, we would like to elaborate on this case again to clarify the facts and set the record straight.

Shatar Shawuti is the former deputy secretary of the Education Work Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, former deputy secretary and director of the Education Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and former head of the Basic Education Curriculum Reform Leading Group of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He was criminally detained on May 5, 2017 and arrested on the May 19. According to the court hearing, it was found that the criminal facts of Shatar Shawuti were as follows.

Since 2002, for the purpose of separating the country, Shatar Shawuti has served as deputy secretary of the Education work Committee of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, deputy secretary of the party group and director of the Department of Education of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, and leader of the leading group for basic education curriculum reform in the autonomous region. Taking the opportunity of presiding over the compilation and publication of ethnic language teaching materials in primary and secondary schools, he has instigated and convened meetings for many times. Organize Alimujiang Maimaitiming (then deputy director of the Department of Education of the Autonomous region, who has been sentenced), Abdurezak Shayimu (then president and deputy editor-in-chief of Xinjiang Education Publishing House, sentenced), Tair Nasr (then president and deputy editor-in-chief of Xinjiang Education Publishing House, sentenced), specially selected Yalikun Rozi, who had the idea of ethnic separatism (then editor of the Uygur textbook editorial Department of Xinjiang Education Publishing House). Wayitijiang Wusman (then editor of the Uygur textbook editorial Department of Xinjiang Education Publishing House, sentenced) and others joined the textbook compilation group. In the process of compiling teaching materials, the above-mentioned personnel gradually formed a separatist criminal syndicate headed by Shatar Shawuti.

In the first half of 2003, in order to achieve the purpose of splitting the country, under the pretext of conveying the requirements for the compilation and publication of teaching materials, Shatar Shawuti (then deputy director of the basic Education Department of the Education Department of the Autonomous Regional Education Department) was called to his office under the guise of highlighting the so-called "local characteristics, national characteristics and embodiment of national history and culture". It is strongly demanded that the teaching materials should be included in the teaching materials to promote national separatism, violent terrorism, religious extremism and other ideas, in order to achieve the goal of "de-Sinicization" to separate the country. At the behest of Shatar Shawuti, Abdurezak Shayimu deliberately arranged Yalikun Rozi and Wayitijiang Wusman to serve as editors and responsible editors of the "problem textbook". When Abdurezak Shayimu left office, he proposed to Tair Nasr, who took over as president of Xinjiang Education Publishing House, to continue to implement the textbook compilation requirements of Shatar Shawuti, and Yalikun Rozi and Wayitijiang Wusman still served as textbook editors and responsible editors. Tair Nasr accepted and executes the conspiracy.

In April 2004, Shatar Shawuti continued to compile into the“textbook with problems”the ideas of national separation, violent terrorism, religious extremism, and so on, and organized meeting in his office with Alimujiang Maimaitiming and Tair Nasr. Again he put forward the requirements for the compilation of teaching materials. After that, at the behest of Shatar Shawuti, Alimujiang Maimaitiming and Tair Nasr organized and arranged many times for Yalikun Rozi and Wayitijiang Wusman to further implement Shattar Shawuti's instruction of "de-Sinicization" in the process of textbook compilation. From 2003 to 2009, Yalikun Rozi and Wayitijiang Wusman compiled a large number of articles promoting ethnic separatism, violent terrorism, religious extremism and so on.

After examination, there are a total of 84 texts with problems in the textbook, including 41 in the 2003 edition and 43 in the 2009 edition (of which 22 are selected from the 2003 edition of the problem textbook). Nearly 25 million copies have been published in the region for as long as 13 years. 2.32 million Uygur students and tens of thousands of educators have used the textbook, causing extremely serious harmful consequences.

It has been found out that under the influence of the above-mentioned teaching materials, Abdusalam Abuduwaili, Mutailipu Kurban (all being sentenced) participated in the serious violent crime of beating, smashing, looting and burning in Urumqi; Abliz Rexiti (sentenced) participated in the violent terrorist crime of "4 / 30" in Urumqi South Railway Station. Attikam Rozi (being sentenced) joined and became the backbone of the separatist criminal group headed by Elihamu Tuhti, a former teacher of Minzu University of China; Milkamili Sidike and others (all being sentenced) participated in the crime of organizing, leading terrorist organizations and illegally manufacturing explosives.

The court held that the defendant Shatar Shawuti, for the purpose of separating the nation, made use of the convenience of organizing and compiling teaching materials to directly appoint and arrange the division of labor and responsibility in compiling the problem textbook by Alimujiang Maimaitiming, Tair Nasr, Yalikun Rozi, Wayitijiang Wusman and other personnels who also had the same separatism thoughts. To form a separatist criminal syndicate headed by Shatar Shawuti. his behavior has constituted the crime of separating the state. He is the organizer, leader and ringleader of the criminal group and should be severely punished in accordance with the law. The defendant, Shatar Shawuti, as a state functionary, took advantage of his position and the convenient conditions formed by his functions and powers to seek benefits for others and repeatedly accepted other people's property with a total value of 15.0527692 million yuan, and his behavior constituted the crime of accepting bribes.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law of the people's Republic of China and the Criminal procedure Law of the people's Republic of China, the defendant, Shatar Shawuti, shall be executed the death penalty with a two-year reprieve for the crime of splitting the state and accepting bribes, with deprivation of political rights for life and confiscation of all personal property. During the trial of the court, his litigation rights shall be protected in accordance with the law. After the verdict, Shatar Shawuti pleaded guilty and repented his crime and did not lodge an appeal.

Xu Guixiang: Next, please watch a video (a video clip of “Undercurrent Surging-Anti-Terrorism Challenge in Xinjiang, China” broadcast by China International Television).

Xu Guixiang: A letter from the media pointed out that recently, the House of Representatives of the Japanese deliberated and passed a resolution on China-related human rights, expressing concern about the so-called "serious human rights" in Xinjiang. What is the spokesman's opinion on this?

Xu Guixiang: The so-called China-related human rights resolution passed by the House of Representatives of the Japanese ignored the facts, confused black and white, in an attempt to distort and smear the human rights situation in Xinjiang, which seriously violates international law and basic norms governing international relations, and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. We express our serious dissatisfaction and strong condemnation to their evil motive!

It must be pointed out that there is no so-called "human rights issue" in Xinjiang. The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the protection of human rights. It has always been concerned about the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and has taken a series of concrete measures to effectively protect the basic rights of people of all ethnic groups, such as their rights to survival and development. In recent years, the living standards of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have improved significantly, social undertakings have made comprehensive progress, freedom of religious belief has been protected in accordance with the law, the excellent traditional culture of ethnic minorities has been protected and inherited, and the overall social situation has remained stable. The sense of achievement, well-being and sense of security of people of all ethnic groups have been improved significantly, which is the best interpretation of the protection of human rights.

But what we have seen from Japan are the notorious records of their human rights situations. In history, Japanese militarism started wars of aggression together with colonial rule, bringing abysmal disaster to the Chinese and even Asian people, which is a severe crime of anti-humanism. Whereas, farces of denying and justifying aggressive wars have still prevailed in Japan so far. The Japanese government insisted on the unilateral and wrong decision to discharge the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water into the sea, despite the grave concern of the global community and neighbouring countries, harming the global marine environmental safety and human's rights of life and health. Furthermore, some Ainus, the aboriginal people in Japan, are suffering from such grievous problems of human rights as systematic and assimilative policies; hence, the Japanese side is in no position to lecture other countries on human rights.

Xu Guixiang: Next part comes to the media Q&A session. Let's invite Bloomberg to raise questions.

Photo taken on March 1, 2022 shows Bloomberg speaks via online video at the 69th Press Conference on Xinjiang-related Issues by XUAR in Beijing. Photo by Xinjiang Daily/ Zheng Zhuo

Bloomberg: I have two questions.

1.The International Labour Organization shows deep concern about the actions taken by Xinjiang. What measures would the Chinese government take for the next step?

2. A report issued by the Atlantic Council of United States shows, the forced labour in China has a connection with the International Finance Centre of the World Bank and other development banks. In the future, what is the plan for the Xinjiang's or the central government's cooperation with the banks of that kind? Would you change the relationship with them?

Xu Guixiang: As for the first question, we would like Elijan Anayat, spokesperson of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to give the answer.

We noted the annual report released by Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Organization. The so-called "data base of Xinjiang victims" quoted by ILO in the report is, in fact, a tool utilized by the anti-China elements to smear Xinjiang and discredit China.

Chinese government gives great prior to the protection of laborer's rights, manifested by the clear demands stipulated by such laws as Labour Law and Employment Promotion Law for the laborer of all ethnic groups to facilitate equal employment and eliminate employment discrimination. Chinese authorities approved totally 26 ILO conventions, among them The Elimination of Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, ratified in 2005, was enforced effectively in China. Therefore, by no means do the policies of employment discrimination targeted at Xinjiang Ethnic groups exist at all.

Xinjiang has always followed the spirit of the constitution of the International Labour Organization and relevant conventions, and strictly implemented laws and regulations such as the labor law of the people's Republic of China, the opinions of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the implementation of the labor law of the people's Republic of China, and the measures of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for the implementation of the labor security supervision regulations, so as to establish, operate, supervise , and mediation will be brought into the track of rule of law, regular law enforcement inspection will be carried out, and forced labor by means of violence, threat or illegal restriction of personal freedom will be strictly prohibited. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are completely free in labor and employment. They have the freedom to choose their careers. They go to any place and do any work out of their own will, and their personal freedom has never been restricted. Based on the principle of equality, voluntariness and agreement through consultation, workers of all ethnic groups have signed labor contracts with enterprises according to law, and their rights to labor remuneration, rest and vacation, labor safety and health protection, social insurance and welfare have been protected according to law.

The so-called "Xinjiang victim database" was established by American bin Jean together with a group of anti-China forces, and has received funding and support from relevant parties in the United States, Australia and other countries. There is the hidden forces of Anti-China forces of the United States and the West. The content of the "Xinjiang victim database" is crude and fabricated in a despicable way. It has fabricated a number of lists of so-called "victims" by means of "making something out of nothing", "vague accusations", "presumptuous speculation", "fabricating and tampering", "distorting facts", "forced Association" and "taking it out of context", In this way, he tried to commit the "crimes" of "illegally detaining Uygurs" and "suppressing Uygurs and Muslims" in Xinjiang. This so-called "database" is a base of rumors and false accusations, which is not worth believing at all.

Xu Guixiang: If you listen to all parties, you will be more clear about the situation; instead if you simply listen to one party, then the information will be obscure. We have two ears, which are to learn about things from different perspectives;We have two eyes, which are to see phenomena from different aspects. I suggest that the ILO should not only look at the so-called "database" materials, but we are willing to have a dialogue with the ILO. We are more willing to sincerely invite the ILO to visit Xinjiang to understand the real labor situation of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang and make an objective and fair evaluation.

As for the second question, let me answer it.

First of all, the report issued by the Atlantic Council of the United States has no factual basis, let alone scientific evidence, thus is worthless. I found that some foreign academic institutions often address some weird segments. It seems that as long as it involves Uygurs and the employment of Uygurs, it must be linked with "forced labor". Xinjiang governments at all levels have actively built platforms to provide information to help Uygurs find employment opportunities, obtain stable income and improve the quality of life. Is this "forced labor"? Therefore, the starting point of this report is completely wrong.

Xinjiang is the core area of "The Belt and Road Initiative", and also an important window for China to open to the West. Xinjiang is willing to cooperate with the multilateral development agencies to jointly promote regional economic and social development. At the same time, we oppose the politicization and ideologicalization of normal economic and trade cooperation by any force in order to undermine the stable development of Xinjiang.

We propose that relevant institutions should adhere to multilateral rules and give fair and non-discriminatory treatment to enterprises of all Member States.

What is the situation in Xinjiang? Foreigners living here have the true feeling. Now, let's watch a video.

  Xu Guixiang: This is the end of today's press conference on Xinjiang related issues. Thank you, friends of reporters and distinguished guests. Goodbye.