HUANGPU SHANGHAI

Pick Fung Ho-Chong, Suriname's ambassador to China, said she was impressed by the many developments in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region when she arrived in Kashgar on Monday.

"It is really a contrast from what I've heard. Seeing is believing. And I believe what I see the enormous development that has been going on," she said.

It was the first time that Ho-Chong visited Xinjiang since she came to China in February as the South American country's top envoy.

"The people are so enterprising and they are selling literally everything from the olden days to the world today," she said, mentioning her trip to a bazaar at the Kashgar ancient city, a rammed-earth building complex with a history of 2,000 years. In 2010, a project was launched to renovate the dilapidated houses there while preserving local characteristics.

The ambassador said it is striking that people in Kashgar are doing a great job conserving traditional things, but still enjoying the modern world today.

She said she was also impressed by how people in Xinjiang dress up in such a colorful way that is totally different from most Chinese cities.

"The ladies here they are so beautiful. That alone gives me an impression how much they are enjoying their life here and this is who they are. They are having a good life," she added.