Those who seek to smear China by manipulating Xinjiang-related issues will not have their way: FM

(ECNS) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday said what the Arab League delegation has seen with their own eyes in Xinjiang once again shows that truth will always prevail, and those who seek to smear China by manipulating Xinjiang-related issues will not have their way.

From May 30 to June 2, a delegation from the Arab League paid a visit to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and they comprised more than 30 officials from 16 Arab countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria as well as the General Secretariat of the Arab League. Chinese FM spokesperson Wang Wenbin introduced at a regular press conference.

Wang said during their trip, the delegation traveled to Urumqi and Kashgar, where they visited mosques, Islamic institutes, local enterprises, old towns and an exhibition on counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, performed prayers in mosques with the locals and got a first-hand experience of their happy life.?

According to Wang, members of the delegation said that the trip had been an eye-opener about a prosperous Xinjiang.

“They spoke highly of the achievements of China’s development model, especially its success in ending extreme poverty. They noted how the region is differently portrayed in Western media, which is not what they saw. They saw a Xinjiang that enjoys social harmony and a rapidly growing economy with residents of all ethnic groups living and working in peace and contentment,” he said.

“Xinjiang is making faster progress in various undertakings,” Wang said, adding that local Muslims freely exercise their ethnic and religious rights in accordance with the law.

Wang stressed that the so-called “genocide” and “religious persecution” are nothing but lies and Arab countries have commended the care that Muslims in Xinjiang and people of other ethnic minority groups have received and expressed their firm support for China’s effort to promote Xinjiang’s development and ensure its stability.

Arab countries have always held a just position on Xinjiang. China welcomes friends from all countries to visit Xinjiang and experience first-hand a prosperous, stable and harmonious Xinjiang, he said.