Photo taken on November 18, 2020 shows the press conference.

On November 18, 2020, the Information Office of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region held the 18th press conference on Xinjiang related issues. The press conference invited the Spokesperson of the Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit, the Deputy Director of the Committee on Ethnic, Religious, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Iqbal Idal, the Deputy Director of the Education Department of XUAR Halat, the Director of the Health Commission of XUAR Mutalif Roz,to answer questions from the press.

Host of press conference: Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Xinjiang Committee Xu Guixiang

Xu Guixiang: Dear friends from the media, good afternoon. Welcome to the press conference on Xinjiang-related issues.

Today, we are very happy to have the Spokesperson of the Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit, the Deputy Director of the Committee on Ethnic, Religious, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Iqbal Idal, the Deputy Director of the Education Department of XUAR Halat, the Director of the Health Commission of XUAR Mutalif Roz to be present at the press conference. We would like to invite them to answer questions from you.

Also, we are very happy to have reporters from 3 foreign media to be present, namely the Bloomberg News of the US, the Tokyo Broadcasting System of Japan and the Antaranews of Indonesia, who will interact with us through video connections.

To show our welcome, we first invite friends from foreign media to ask questions.

Bloomberg News of the US: Empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that thousands of mosques, shrines and other religious shrines in the region have been either destroyed or permanently closed. Can you provide data over time to show the evolution of the number of mosques in the Xinjiang? In the case of a decline, what’s the reason for the decline? If the number has gone up, what does that suggest about the position and role of Islam in Xinjiang today?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Spokesperson of Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit.

Elijan Anayit: The so-called "thousands of mosques and other religious sites in Xinjiang have been destroyed or permanently closed down" is completely untrue.

Xinjiang has always been a region where certain religions coexist. Mosques, churches, temples, Taoist temples and other religious sites are distributed throughout Xinjiang. Xinjiang has never "destroyed" or "forcibly demolished" religious sites. Instead, we have taken a series of measures to protect them. For example, 109 religious and cultural relics, such as Kashgar Aitigar Mosque and Zhaosu Shengyou Temple, have been listed as cultural relics protection units at or above the autonomous region level. The central government has also allocated special funds to renovate Kashgar Aitigar Mosque, Yining Jiefang South Road Mosque, Hotan Jiaman Mosque, Urumqi Westernization Mosque and other religious sites listed as national and Xinjiang cultural relics protection units. These religious sites are still in normal use and have never been closed down, let alone destroyed. If you are interested, you can visit them on the spot.

The details of Xinjiang mosques have been described in certain white books issued by the Press Office of the State Council of China. It is stressed that most of the mosques in Xinjiang were built in the 1980s-1990s or even earlier. These mosques were originally Adobe houses, or extremely narrow, or dilapidated houses, and cannot support religious activities normally in the event of wind and rain; and even much threaten personal safety of Muslim people in the event of earthquake. In addition, certain mosques were poorly laid out, which is not conducive for Muslim people to carry out religious activities. In recent years, with the acceleration of urbanization and the construction of new countryside, with response to the appeals and applications of local Muslims, in combination with the transformation of urban shantytowns, the construction of beautiful villages and the relocation of poverty-alleviation sites, in accordance with urban and rural construction planning, by construction, reconstruction and expansion, certain local governments have treated the dangerous houses in mosques well, thus making the mosque buildings safer and better arranged and the believers rather satisfied. At present, the mosques in Xinjiang can fully meet the needs of religious believers.

All religions have same status in China. We treat all religions equally rather than prefer or discriminate a religion, and no religion is superior to other religions. We have always insisted on the adaptation of religions to the socialist society, which is not only the requirement of China's national conditions, but also the internal demand of religious survival and development. In fact, all religions including Islam in Xinjiang have played a positive role in promoting economic development and social stability, which is also an important reason for their healthy inheritance and development.

Bloomberg News of the US：Can you provide figures on the evolution of the number of people that have passed through the region’s vocational centers for each year: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

Elijan Anayit: In view of the frequent violent and terrorist activities in Xinjiang, we have set up vocational techniques education and training center pursuant to law for vocational techniques education and training and the number of the trainees is dynamic. On December 9, 2019, the press conference on the stable development of Xinjiang announced that all the trainees for “national universal languages and words, legal knowledge, vocational techniques and de-extremity” (NLVD) have completed study, gained stable jobs and enjoyed normal lives.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer, Elijan Anayit. Please go ahead to raise questions, media friends.

Tokyo Broadcasting System of Japan：Thank you, the host.What is China's comment on the previous proposal of EU officials that they hoped to conduct an independent investigation into Xinjiang?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Spokesperson of Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit.

Elijan Anayit: Xinjiang is an open area. Since 2018, we have allowed more than 1,000 persons from over 70 delegations and 100 countries to visit Xinjiang, including UN officials, foreign envoys in China, permanent representatives of relevant countries in Geneva, media reporters and religious groups, and all of them had a good impression of Xinjiang. We also welcome friends from all over the world, including the EU members, to visit Xinjiang and learn about the real situation on the spot to avoid being blinded by hearsay and lies. It is stressed that we are opposed to any investigation based on the presumption of guilt and against anyone looking at Xinjiang with colored glasses.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer, Elijan Anayit. Please go ahead to raise questions.

Antaranews of Indonesia: Thank you,host,I’m from the Antaranews of Indonesia.I have three questions to ask.

1. How about the recent epidemic situation in Xinjiang, especially in Kashgar?
2. How many trainees have been graduated? Do they support the local industries?
3. Will the government allow Xinjiang Muslims to make pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia next year?

Xu Guixiang: The first questions you asked is about epidemic situation，goes to the Director of the Health Commission of XUAR Mutalif Roz,the other two goes to the Spokesperson of Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit.

Mutalif Roz：Since the outbreak of the virus, as required by the general guidance: fight the virus with concerted efforts and rock-solid conviction through scientific prevention and control and targeted countermeasures, we have been taking resolute actions with firm confidence and a strong will to press ahead with virus prevention and control on all fronts. We have set outworking groups andexpert teamsat first time leaving for Kashgar to guide the work in disease prevention and control. The Kashgar Prefecture started the first level response to guarantee life security and physical health of people of all ethnic groups.

To conduct COVID-19 epidemiological investigation. We wasted no time teaming up provincial-municipal-district(county) three-tier epidemiological task forces, under the guidance of national expert group, to investigate on the origins of the virus in depth with all-out efforts, swiftly cutting off possible channels of transmission and screening close contacts and putting them under medical observation in dedicated facilities, thus providing strong support to science-based precise control over the virus.

To guarantee people of all ethnic groups’ safety, health and normal life, Xinjiang makes utmost efforts to ensure the implementation of “early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment of cases”, offering free nucleic acid testing in Kashgar Prefecture at the beginning, and conducting the tests over and over again to key groups and key areas in order to detect the virus in the first place, which wins time for early treatment and early recovery as well as prevention of virus spreading.

Since the outbreak of the virus, National Health Commissionset out joint expert teams comprising experienced experts assisting Xinjiang, the Epidemic Prevention and Control Headquaters in Xinjiang conducted their task according to the principle of “early intervention, diagnosis and treatment”, and followed by a unified approach: patients are hospitalized for best possible treatment, which is person specific, at designated hospitals where medical experts and resources are assembled. According to the Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 (Edition 8) issued by National Health Commission of PRC and the features of the virus, traditional Chinese medicine is equally incorporated to improve the cure rate. According to related policy, all expenses incurred during hospitalization of confirmed cases and asymptomatic patients are free of charge. Between 00:00 Oct.24 to 24:00 Nov.17, a total of 70 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospital, and 286 asymptomatic dismissed from medical observation.

To guarantee supply of essential items. Strictly implement the systems of holding officials accountable for grain and daily food supplies, ramping up production and supply of vegetables, fruit, meet, egg, dairy products, grains and other daily essentials; ensuring supply of water, electricity, petrol and natural gas; and guarantee transport channels smooth and undisrupted, making sure that markets are adequately supplied and prices stay stable. Coordinate COVID-19 prevention and control with serving the people, particularly those under home quarantine and the old, sick, ill and disabled, solving their difficulties in daily life and ensuring all people live normal and orderly lives.

Implementation of normalized prevention and control measures. We have implemented monitoring and early warning mechanism, standardized management on fever clinic, and prioritize screening and disinfection of key places to eliminate the risks of virus transmission and spreading. We have strengthened tests for port sanitary inspection/quarantine, cold chain logistics and imported frozen and fresh food, meanwhile carrying out high quality disinfection over transportation and logistics. New-era patriotic health campaign is ongoing with the conduction of environmental hygiene remediation.

From Nov. 8 to now, there’s no new confirmed cases and asymptomatic patients in Xinjiang. Up to 24:00 Nov. 17, there are eight confirmed cases, all in Kashgar Prefecture; and 66 cases of asymptomatic patients.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer, Mutalif Roz,the other two goes to the Spokesperson of Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit.

Elijan Anayit: As I just said, all trainees of NLVD have completed their studies. They have completed the training courses of clothing, shoes and hats processing, food processing, electronic product assembly, typesetting and printing, beauty and hairdressing, e-commerce, automobile maintenance, architectural decoration, animal husbandry, fruit tree cultivation, health massage, domestic service, handicraft production, flower arrangement, carpet weaving, painting, musical instrument performance and dance performance as per their wishes and interests, and mastered 1-2 vocational techniques proficiently. After graduation, some of them were employed by factories or enterprises and some of them started business themselves, playing a positive role in the development of local related industries.

According to the common practice of the international community, Chinese Government implements the pilgrimage policies as planned and organized. From 1996 to 2019, the Islamic Association of China has organized more than 50,000 Xinjiang Muslims to take charter flights arranged by the government to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage with medical treatment, translation and other services from the government. Influenced by COVID-19, the Islamic Association of China has suspended the pilgrimage 2020 from Chinese Muslim Community. Whether Muslims is organized for pilgrimage to Mecca next year is up to the Islamic Association of China. Next year, we will do a good job related to the pilgrimage according to the organization of the Islamic Association of China if conditions permit.

Photo taken on November 18, 2020 shows the press conference.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you. Now, media friends from press on the scene, Please go ahead to raise questions.

CGTN: Thank you, the host. I am from the CGTN. It has come to our knowledge that “Eastern Turkistan” organizations such as “the Eastern Turkistan government in exile” and “the Eastern Turkistan National Awakening Movement” have submitted a bill of complaint to the International Criminal Court in Hague that Xinjiang is “suppressing Muslim violently, putting the minority under arrest on a large scale, carrying out cultural genocide and committing the crime against humanity”, etc. In view of this, what do you think?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Deputy Director of the Committee on Ethnic, Religious, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Iqbal Idal.

Iqbal Idal: The so-called complaints made by “Eastern Turkistan” organizations are completely fabricated and utter nonsense.

The issue concerning Xinjiang is not a matter of human rights, nationality and religion, but a matter of anti-terrorism and anti-secession. The work of anti-terrorism and de-extremalization in Xinjiang is backed by clear legal basis and legal procedures, and Xinjiang always insists on linking up with specific region, ethnic group and religion, so that there is no so-called “suppression of Muslim” and “mass detention of the minority”at all. Through the work of anti-terrorism and de-extremalization according to law, Xinjiang has not seen any violent terrorist case (event) in nearly 4 consecutive years, as a result of which the infiltration of extremism has been effectively curbed, and the sense of contentment, happiness and security of the people of all ethnic groups has been significantly enhanced. In addition, Xinjiang protects the right of each ethnic group to use and develop the spoken and written languages of their own ethnic group according to law, and pays high attention to the protection and development of the outstanding traditional culture of each ethnic group. At present, the spoken and written languages of the minorities have been widely used in education, justice, administration, social public affairs and other fields. Specifically, the Uygur Muqam of Xinjiang, Manas, epic of the Khalkha nationality and the Uygur Meshrep have been separately been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, so that the so-called argument of “cultural genocide on the Uyghur nationality”is groundless, which is completely alarmist.

In order to steal the spotlight, “the Eastern Turkistan government in exile” has gone further and further away on the “shameless” road, trying to show the whole world their ugly images such as “no bottom line and lower limit”, spread false information by every means, confuse the public, poison the public opinion and bring shame on Xinjiang. This time, they gang up with other organizations to stir up trouble and flatter others once again, and such a farce of the so-called “litigation” is boring and extremely clumsy.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer,Iqbal Idal. Please go ahead to raise questions.

CNS: Thank you, the host. I am from the CNS. We have learnt that recently, the US Secretary of State Pompeo announced to withdraw the decision to classify the “East Turkestan Islamic Movement” (ETIM)as a terrorist organization. What is your response to this regard?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Spokesperson of Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit.

Elijan Anayit: As we all know, ETIM is a terrorist organization recognized by the United Nations Security Council and the international community. For a long time, with the purpose to separate Xinjiang from China, ETIM has spread violent terrorist thoughts in the guise of religion, instigated, planned and implemented a series of violent terrorist activities, greatly harming people's lives and property safety. The “October 28” violent terrorist attack in Beijing Jinshuiqiao, the "March 1" serious violent terrorist incident in Kunming, Yunnan, and the "April 30" violent terrorist attack in Urumqi South Railway Station in Xinjiang were all planned and implemented by the ETIM. It has released a large number of violent terrorist audios and videos through Internet, incited extremists to create violent terrorist incidents, and taught methods and skills of terrorist attacks. It is understood that the violent terrorist cases in China are directly related to the ETIM and the violent terrorist audios and videos released by it. Almost all the personnel involved have watched or listened to the violent terrorist audios and videos. In December 2019, China International Television Station (CGTN) broadcast the documentary Evil Backstage Manipulator—ETIM and Anti-terrorism Struggle in Xinjiang, and presenting a large number of objective and real cases about the crimes of ETIM in Xinjiang including instilling extreme ideas, inciting national hatred, poisoning women and children, and creating violent terrorist incidents, revealing that the ETIM is part of the international terrorism system and threats both China and the whole world. Hence, we solemnly declare that Xinjiang will not waver in its determination to crack down ETIM and other terrorist forces, to safeguard the lives and property of the people of all ethnic groups, and to safeguard social stability and national unity. Any attempt to undermine the stability and development of Xinjiang will not succeed.

It must be pointed out that terrorism is a common threat to mankind and an important issue that requires the cooperation of all countries. The declaration of the US Secretary of State Pompeo for withdrawing the identification of the nature of the ETIM as terrorist organization regardless of the bloody crimes committed by it has violated the commitment of the US Government, seriously undermined international anti-terrorism cooperation, been a cover up and connivance of terrorism and fully unveiled the "double standard" in anti-terrorism and the ugly face of “randomly utilizing and abandoning terrorists” of Washington authorities and is doomed to be unpopular, which are unjustifiable and doomed to fail. We are rather dissatisfied with and resolutely oppose to this wrong decision of the US Government. We urge the United States to immediately change over to new ways and correct its mistakes.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer,Elijan Anayit. Please go ahead to raise questions.

Xinjiang Station of China National Radio: Thank you, the host. I am from the Xinjiang Station of China National Radio. Recently, some foreign scholars claimed that the “Class for Xinjiang Students” run by China equals to a “national reconstruction movement”, and schools give those students “a Chinese name”, carry out “political brainwashing” and “prohibit them from being engaged in religious activities in schools”, etc. Could you please tell us that is this true?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Deputy Director of the Education Department of XUAR Halat.

Halat: Such ridiculous argument made some foreigners is not tally with the facts and is also illogical, with is severely, politically biased, which is totally a smear against the “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students”.

Since September 2000, in order to further enhance the work of talent cultivation in each ethnic group, Xinjiang, with the help of the quality education resources of developed inland provinces (cities), has run the “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” in 14 provinces (cities) successively, including Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. In the process of running the class, relevant provinces (cities) assigned the task of running class to the local top high schools with good school-running conditions, and provided a strong team of teachers to ensure that Xinjiang students can fully enjoy the local highest level of education and teaching. Therefore, those schools in charge of running the class increased the fund input in running the class, actively improved the learning and living conditions of Xinjiang students, built apartments for Xinjiang students, equipped with study and living facilities and equipment, and provided with all kinds of daily necessities free of charge, and also distributed several school uniform by season. As a matter of fact, these schools fully respect the customs and habits of minority students, and set up special Moslems’ canteens in order to ensure that they can enjoy delicious halal food. On festivals such as Corban Festival and Eid ul-Fitr, etc., schools also organizes holiday celebrations to spend the festival with them together. In order to strengthen the communication and connection between parents of students and schools, Xinjiang organized in batches parents of students to visit teachers and students in inland schools, so as to have an overall picture of their children’s learning and living in inland schools. According to incomplete statistics, more than 95% of the graduates of “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” have successfully pursued advanced studies in inland colleges and universities. After finishing their studies, most of them returned to Xinjiang to show their talent in every walk of life and become the new force of building Xinjiang and developing hometown.

The establishment of “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” has cultivated a large number of outstanding talents for each ethnic group in Xinjiang, which has been well received by the parents and students of all ethnic groups. For example, Gulihuma Wahav, a graduate of “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” in Aketedu County, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, left Atushi City, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture to study in “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” of Qingdao Laoshan No.2 High School in 2001, and was later admitted by Northeast Normal University (English major) with excellent academic performance. After graduation, she came back to hometown and became a teacher. When recalling her learning experience in “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students”, she emotionally expressed, “‘Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students’ cultivated me, taught me knowledge and broadened my horizon, and made me an honorable people’s teacher as a child from the countryside. I hope that my students will also have the opportunity to learn in the ‘Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students’ in the future.” For example, many parents of minority students take pride in their children being admitted to “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students”. Nazim, parent of a student of Kazakh ethnic group from Altay City, said, “What makes me feel most proud is that my daughter is admitted by the ‘Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students’, where offers high teaching quality and good living conditions, so that my daughter can be admitted to a good university for sure.”

The purpose of running “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” is to enable Xinjiang students of each ethnic group to enjoy quality education resources of inland developed provinces and cities. Moreover, the “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” recruits students in the principle of voluntariness, and those who go to inland schools not only include Uygur and minority students, but include students of the Han nationality, which is not the so-called “national reconstruction movement” at all. In fact, “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students” has never asked minority students to change their names in terms of enrollment and admission, in-school management and graduation, which is clearly recorded in student files, and there is no such situation in which “schools give Chinese names to Xinjiang students” at all. Some foreigners are totally making up stories, and we are wondering that can they show us a copy of student file like that.

As for the issue of practicing patriotism in “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students”, it is absolutely a normal education measure. As far as I know, all countries in the world will tell the young students to love their homeland. On November 2, 2020, President Trump of the United States signed an order to establish “1776 Commission” (the United States was officially established in 1776) in order to promote patriotism education. The United States often organized primary and secondary school students to sing the national anthem, go to the museums and memorial halls. Therefore, can we call it a “political brainwashing” when the United States carries out patriotism education?

As for the issue that whether or not students can participate in religious activities in schools, we have explained it for multiple times. Today, I’ll reaffirm it that according to the Education Law of the People’s Republic of China, “the state advocates separating education from religion”, and students from “Inland High School Class for Xinjiang Students”, similar to all students across the country, are not allowed to organize and participate in any religious activity in schools. As it has been clearly stipulated by the Chinese law, anyone has no right to make irresponsible remarks or find faults!

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer, Halat. Please go ahead to raise questions, media friends.

China Daily: I am from the China Daily.“Australian Strategic Policy Institute” issued a report on Gene Monitoring, believing that Xinjiang is collecting the DNA data of residents in the name of free physical examination in order to implement “gene monitoring” on a large scale. In view of this, what do you think?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Director of the Health Commission of XUAR Mutalif Roz.

Mutalif Roz: The privacy of Chinese citizens is protected by law, and Xinjiang insists on protecting the privacy of the masses of all ethnic groups at any moment and in any case. The smear made by the “Australian Strategic Policy Institute” against Xinjiang’s total free physical examination project is totally a tale of a tub.

Since 2016, in order to enhance the health level of the masses of each ethnic group, the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has carried out the total free physical examination project, and the medical and health organizations will provide the masses of each ethnic group in Xinjiang with free physical examination once every year. In the process of physical examination, there is no such case of collecting DNA and other biological information of the physical examination objects at all. At present, Xinjiang has invested a total of RMB5.324 billion in comprehensive health examinations, and achieved early prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases through regular free medical examinations. The masses of each ethnic group have practically experienced the material benefits brought by this medical benefit policy, so that they will head to the physical examination points when it’s time for the total free physical examination. Turson Talip, a villager of Mixia Town, Shache County, Kashi Prefecture, was diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes during the physical examination, whose chronic diseases were effectively controlled due to medication in time. He said with emotion, “My diseases can be timely detected and treated with such a good physical examination policy.”

Next, I’m going to let you all know that what the “Australian Strategic Policy Institute” really is once again right here. The Institute has been financially supported by the Government and arms dealers of the United States for a long time. It is wild about making up and hyping various anti-China issues and has extremely thick ideologies, which is actually serving as “daring vanguard” in the anti-China battlefield in the “academic” clothing. Australian Alert Service, a party journal of Australia’s Citizens Party, posted an article a few days ago that the “Australian Strategic Policy Institute” that cracks itself up to be “independent” and non-aligned has thoroughly been a tool of other countries for it spares no effort in serving the “war” against China led by the United States, pointing out that a lot of viewpoints and clues in the Institute’s “report” are from some false NGOs of the United States, such as the organization “Human Rights Watch” that is dedicated to “regime change” and far-right scholars such as Adrian Zenz, whose viewpoints are not trustworthy at all. Apart from making sensational false news, their viewpoints make no sense. On the issue concerning Xinjiang, the Institute has thrown groundless fallacy over and over again, which has been refuted by us with facts and truth time and time again. This time, it levels an attack against China’s medical benefit policy after being instigated by its “sugar daddies”. In view of this, I’d like to pose a question to the “Australian Strategic Policy Institute” that where did you see and whose DNA has you seen that is extracted in the total free physical examination carried out in Xinjiang? Where is the evidence?

In fact, the United States is the country that extensively collects and makes use of gene information indeed. According to the report available on the “Russia Today TV”, the US Air Education and Training Command once published recruitment information, pointing out in particular the necessity to acquire the RNA and synovial fluid samples of Russian people. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon has formulated a R&D plan to strike its opponents with gene weapons. Those involved claim that the genes of Asian Chinese, European Aryans and Middle Eastern Arabs are included in the search scope of the US Army. The Pentagon’s gene war project is identify the gene features of the competitors by studying their gene composition, then study the drugs and foods that mutate genes, and mutate the genes of the group of specific race by changing the gene drugs and foods, so as to achieve the purpose of winning the war without a single fight. In view of this, I’m sure that you all have a clear idea that who is on earth making use of genes to be engaged in dirty secrets.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer, Mutalif Roz. Please go ahead to raise questions.

Xinhua: Thank you, the host. I am from the Xinhua news agnecy. Mulan, a Disney film on the air recently, was shot in Xinjiang, which extended gratitude to the publicity department and public security department of Xinjiang in its tail leader. However, some foreign media and personnel hold that what Disney has done is to ignore Xinjiang’s infringement on human rights, which is making profit by the side of “concentration camp” and is “a disgrace to the values of the United States”. So, what is your opinion on this?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Spokesperson of Information Office of the People’s Government of XUAR Elijan Anayit.

Elijan Anayit: In my opinion, it is nothing more than normal for Disney to extend its gratitude to the Xinjiang side in its tail leader for providing convenience when shooting the film Mulan in Xinjiang, and Disney also gave the same response. However, some foreign media and personnel launched unbridled attacks and slandered Disney and the film, and made irresponsible remarks on China’s policy of Xinjiang governance and the situation of human rights in Xinjiang, fully exposing their sinister intention of attempting to interfere with and destroy the positive efforts made for stability and development in Xinjiang, and we strongly oppose and make a stand against it.

As everyone knows, Mulan is a heroine in ancient China. The story about her joining the army in the name of her father is widely known in China and has been made into films for multiple times, which is popular with the audience around the world. The fine qualities of Mulan, such as “loyalty, courage and filial piety”, as well as the concepts of female independence, freedom and equality conveyed from the film, have long gone beyond borders, resonating many audiences around the world. Miss Hua Mulan joining the army in the name of her father was in obedience to the order of Khan, the Xianbei regime of Northern Wei Dynasty, which reflects the story of communication and integration among various nationalities in ancient China, and is also sufficient to prove that communication and integration among various nationalities in China has a long history and is inherited. In order to promote cultural exchanges, the relevant departments of Xinjiang provided the necessary help for shooting the film, but the U.S. and other Western anti-China forces made groundless accusations against Disney and the film Mulan, which shows a lack of historical common sense and is simply muddying the issues, whose relevant practices and arguments are groundless and extremely absurd.

We are reaffirming it right here that there is no such co-called “concentration camp” in Xinjiang at all. Some US politicians and media attach sensational labels to Xinjiang Vocational Skills Education and Training Center for their own selfish interests, such as “detention camp”, “reeducation camp” and “concentration camp”, which is absolutely confusing right and wrong. On August 24, 2020, CCTV International Chinese Channel broadcast a TV documentary titled Lie and the Truth—A Documentary of Xinjiang Education and Training Center, which vividly displayed the study and life of trainees in the education and training center with real character stories and scenes. Since the end of 2018, many media reporters who once visited the education and training center have made objective and fair reports, expressing one after another that they have learned the truth about the education and training center, understood the urgency, necessity, legitimacy and rationality for Xinjiang to carry out the work of education and training, and highly affirming the important contributions made by Xinjiang to the international community in the fight against terrorism and extremalization. In fact, some foreign politicians have mentioned that no one will believe in the false statements made by those people after paying a visit to Xinjiang.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer. Please go ahead to raise questions.

Tianshannet: Thank you, the host. I am from the Tianshannet. Recently, an US senator has proposed “the Medical and Eugenics Act to sanction and highlight authoritarianism in 2020”, “accusing” China of implementing “compulsory abortion and other coercive birth control policies” in Xinjiang, and requesting imposing sanctions on relevant individuals and entities. In view of this, what is your opinion?

Xu Guixiang: This question goes to the Deputy Director of the Committee on Ethnic, Religious, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Iqbal Idal.

Iqbal Idal: Xinjiang affairs are 100% China’s internal affairs, and no outside force has the right to interfere! Some US senator proposed the so-called “Medical and Eugenics Act to sanction and highlight authoritarianism in 2020”, severely violating the international law and the basic guidelines of international relations, which is a completely Naked hegemony act, and is strongly condemned by the cadres and the masses of each ethnic group in Xinjiang.

Xinjiang’s population policy has long yielded precedence to the minorities, including the Uyghur nationality. According to the statistics, the total population, the population of the minorities and the Uighur population in Xinjiang saw a steady and sustained growth and the Han Chinese population in Xinjiang grew slightly from 2010 to 2018. From 2010 to 2018, the permanent resident population of Xinjiang rose from 21.8158 million to 24.8676 million, with an increase of 3.0518 million, which grew by 13.99%. Specifically, the population of the minorities rose from 12.9859 million to 15.8608 million, with an increase of 2.8749 million, which grew by 22.14%; the Uighur population rose from 10.1715 million to 12.7184 million, with an increase of 2.5469 million, which grew by 25.04%; the Han Chinese population rose from 8.8299 million to 9.0068 million, with an increase of 176,900, which grew by 2.0%. In view of the above, it can be seen that the growth of the Uighur population is not only higher than that of the population in Xinjiang, but higher than that of the population of minorities, and is significantly higher than that of the Han Chinese population. If it is true as some US senator has mentioned, how could it be possible to see a substantial growth in the Uighur population?

It must be emphasized that the rights and interests of all ethnic groups including Uyghur nationality have been fully guaranteed when Xinjiang implements the policy of family planning. The masses of all ethnic groups are independent and voluntary to decide whether or not to take birth control measures and choose the method of birth control, and no organization and individual shall not interfere with them, so that there is no so-called “compulsory abortion and sterilization” at all.

In fact, instead, it is the United States that expelled and killed Indians in the westward movement for nearly a century after the founding of the nation. As a result, the population of American Indians dropped from 5 million in 1492 to 250,000 in early 20th century. At present, the population of American Indians accounts for only 2% of the total population of the United States, and Indians are described by the media as “the disappearing race”. In front of such a crime, some American politicians do not reflect and repent at all, but pretend to be kind, and even make irresponsible remarks on and interfere wantonly with the policy of birth control implemented according to law in Xinjiang, which is absolutely absurd.

I must point out here that the so-called “Sanction Action” is a farce directed and acted by individual anti-China legislators in the U.S. to smear China by fabricating lies for political gain, which is doomed to failure. No outside force can interfere with the stable development of Xinjiang, and no attempt to undermine will succeed. We must warn some US politicians of immediately revoking the so-called “Medical and Eugenics Act to sanction and highlight authoritarianism in 2020”, keep their “hands off” Xinjiang affairs and stop playing those little dirty tricks in Xinjiang, because their ugly act of making political capital out of the issue concerning Xinjiang has been clearly seen and spit on by more and more people in the international community.

Xu Guixiang: Thank you for your answer,Iqbal Idal. Today's press conference concludes now. Thanks all the invitees and media friends.