HUANGPU SHANGHAI

[Photo/cctv.com]

A webinar titled "Xinjiang is a Wonderful Land" was jointly hosted by China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva and the government of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Feb 3.

The purpose of the webinar was to serve as an introduction to Xinjiang's socioeconomic development achievements and its people's living conditions. Attendees included diplomats from more than 50 countries, including nearly 20 ambassadors.

The online event also attracted the participation of officials from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN human rights experts.

At the webinar, the attendees learned about Xinjiang's landscape, its socioeconomic achievements and the people's happy lives through a series of video clips.

Erkin Tuniyaz, vice chairman of the regional government and head of the Xinjiang Islamic Association and the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, and Muhtiram Sherip, the Imam of the Yanghang Mosque in Urumqi, further explained how religious freedom is guaranteed in the region.

Representatives of graduated trainees from former vocational education and training centers shared stories of how their lives were improved after learning skills at the centers.

People from all walks of life such as internet celebrities, Uyghur mothers and workers told their personal stories of how Xinjiang has shaken off extreme poverty, developed e-commerce, protected its traditional culture, offered free education and maternal and child health-care, and promoted solidarity and unity among people of all ethnic groups.

Diplomats from Laos, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, Belarus, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Iran, and Eritrea thanked the Chinese government for offering such an opportunity to learn about Xinjiang's development and people's happy lives, which they said they found inspiring and helpful for the diplomatic circle in Geneva to get to know the real Xinjiang in an all-round and accurate way.

Many diplomats recalled their visits to Xinjiang and said they appreciated the Chinese government's commitment to promoting sustainable development, safeguarding social order, protecting human rights, and improving people's livelihoods.

They also expressed firm opposition to politicizing human rights issues and using Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.