Zhao Lijian Photo: VCG

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday lauded chairperson of Italian senate foreign affairs committee Vito Petrocelli, who told media that he does not believe "ethnic persecution" or "genocide" exists in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, saying his remarks were the voice of objectiveness, truth and justice.

Xinjiang enjoys social stability, economic growth, ethnic solidarity and religious harmony, and people of all ethnic groups live happy lives there, which is a conclusion any unbiased people will make, ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at the routine press conference, noting that some anti-China forces' smears based on lies were bubbles that easily burst in front of facts and people with wisdom.

Objective and fair voices on Xinjiang are mounting, Zhao said, citing works by US independent news website The Grayzone, Project Syndicate, Counterpunch, former mayor of Norway's Frogn Thore Vestby, and French writer Maxime Vivas.

They had pointed out the "forced labor" and "genocide" accusations against Xinjiang were groundless and revealed how US-led Western countries played double standards on anti-terrorism and used Xinjiang-related issues to contain China in geopolitics. 

Zhao mentioned more than 50 ambassadors and senior diplomats from African, Latin American and Caribbean countries visited Xinjiang last month and were impressed by the development and prosperity of the region. They spoke highly of government efforts in anti-terrorism and anti-extremism, and acknowledged the role of vocational education and training centers. 

Petrocelli said he was willing to lead a delegation to Xinjiang and Zhao said China welcomes foreigners from all walks of life who hold a fair and objective stance to visit region. Reality lies there, and anti-China forces' lies and farces cannot cover it, Zhao said. 

Global Times