China issues white paper on protecting rights of Xinjiang's ethnic groups

China's State Council Information Office Wednesday issued a white paper detailing the country's progress in protecting the rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The white paper, titled "Respecting and Protecting the Rights of All Ethnic Groups in Xinjiang," said the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have upheld a people-centered approach to human rights protection and Xinjiang has made steady progress in this regard over the past 70-plus years.

"China has given priority to securing and improving people's wellbeing, advanced various undertakings in Xinjiang, and shared the fruits of reform and development with people of all ethnic groups, so as to guarantee their equal rights to participation and development," said the document.

It noted that the Chinese government makes full use of its institutional strengths, pools the efforts of all sectors of society, and promotes the rapid development of all undertakings in Xinjiang.

"The ethnic groups in Xinjiang unite and work together to achieve common development and prosperity. The political, economic, social, cultural, and many other rights of the people of every ethnic group are effectively guaranteed," said the document.

In addition to a preface and a conclusion, the white paper consists of seven sections - "Civil Rights," "Political Rights,""Economic Rights," "Cultural Rights," "Social Rights," "Rights of Women and Children," and "Freedom of Religious Belief." 

Xinjiang's GDP increases 160 times in 65 years: white paper

The gross domestic product (GDP) of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region increased about 160 times in 65 years. From 1955 to 2020, Xinjiang's GDP soared from 1.2 billion yuan to 1.4 trillion yuan, an increase of about 160 times at constant prices, according to the white paper. 

No terrorist incident in Xinjiang for over 4 years due to counter-terror efforts: white paper

There has been no terrorist incident in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since the end of 2016. 

The infiltration of extremism has been effectively curbed, and the right to life of people of all ethnic groups has been fully protected in Xinjiang, where thousands of terrorist acts were once plotted and carried out, resulting in the deaths of large numbers of innocent civilians and hundreds of police officers, said the document.

Equal right to economic development guaranteed in China's Xinjiang: white paper

All ethnic groups in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region enjoy equal rights to economic development and are moving steadily towards the goal of common prosperity