Prof. Barry Sautman: Those doubt the mainstream Western narrative will be convinced by their own eyes

On September 8, 2026, the Xinjiang Friendship and Exchange Conference with Distinguished International Guests kicked off in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The event brought together representatives from two international organizations — the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), alongside government officials, scholars, business representatives and journalists from 33 countries.

Barry Sautman, Professor Emeritus at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Distinguished Professor at Tsinghua University, said, “The actual experience that people have in Xinjiang is always useful, because seeing things for yourself, reinforces the sense among people who already doubt the mainstream Western narrative that the mainstream Western narrative is wrong. For people who think maybe it is true, maybe it is not, they will be convinced by their own eyes.”

(A written permission shall be obtained for reprinting, excerpting, copying and mirroring of the contents published on this website. Unauthorized aforementioned act shall be deemed an infringement, of which the actor shall be held accountable under the law.)