Ma Xingrui, Party chief of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, meets with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai?in Kashi on March 19, 2025. Photo: Xinjiang Daily

Ma Xingrui, Party chief of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, recently met with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in Kashi, during which the two sides had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and deepening local cooperation in relevant fields, the Xinjiang Daily reported on Friday. 
During the meeting, Ma said that Xinjiang has always upheld a people-centered development philosophy, regarding the rights to subsistence and development as the most fundamental human rights. In accordance with the law, Xinjiang ensures that people of all ethnic groups fully enjoy their economic, social, cultural and civil rights, as well as political rights, and makes every effort to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all residents.

Ma noted that the US and some other Western countries have willfully fabricated egregious lies such as "genocide" and "forced labor," in an attempt to push people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang region into poverty and backwardness, and to advance their agenda of using Xinjiang region to contain China.

We firmly oppose the manipulation of Xinjiang-related issues under the pretext of human rights, and firmly oppose using these issues to interfere with normal cooperation between countries, Ma said.

Ma said that Xinjiang stands ready to further strengthen exchanges and interactions at the local level with Thailand, enhance mutual understanding and support, and advance practical cooperation in various fields.

For his part, Phumtham said that during this visit to Xinjiang region, he witnessed firsthand a scene of prosperity, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of the region. He noted the remarkable changes in Xinjiang's economic development and social landscape, calling the trip truly worthwhile, according to the Xinjiang Daily.

Phumtham also said that Xinjiang is a region where diverse cultures blend and thrive, with people of different ethnic groups living together in harmony and happiness. The Thai side hopes to engage in mutual exchanges with China's Xinjiang region to share experiences in the development and governance of multi-ethnic regions, and Chinese friends are welcome to visit Thailand and engage in exchanges, the Xinjiang Daily reported.

Global Times