Countries back China over rights in Xinjiang

File photo: Delegates attend the resuming of a United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland, June 15, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

Forty-six countries voiced support on Wednesday for China's anti-terrorism and de-radicalization work in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"Terrorism and extremism are common enemies to human beings, and pose severe threats to all human rights," according to a joint statement on behalf of the 46 nations read by Belarus' representative at the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

"We note with concern that terrorism, separatism and extremism have caused enormous damage to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, China, and seriously infringed upon their human rights."

The 46 countries expressed appreciation that China has undertaken a series of measures in response to threats in accordance with the law to safeguard the human rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.

"There was no single terrorist attack in Xinjiang in the last three years. Safety and stability have been restored in Xinjiang. Human rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been effectively safeguarded," the statement said.

Chen Xu, China's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said: "The Xinjiang-related issues are not so-called human rights, ethnic and religious issues, but anti-terrorism and anti-secession issues. China has taken effective measures, and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have fully enjoyed all human rights in a peaceful and safe environment, which has been widely recognized by the international community."

Some countries have attempted to politicize the situation in Hong Kong and Xinjiang with groundless, uninformed accusations against China, Chen said, adding that these countries face serious human rights problems of their own, including systematic racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia, police brutality and abuse of immigrants.

"We urge these countries to pay attention to these human rights problems, stop adopting double standards and stop politicizing the Human Rights Council. Their attempt to interfere with other countries' domestic affairs is doomed to fail," Chen added.

Openness lauded

The 46 nations said they appreciate China's openness and transparency, which is evident from, among other things, inviting more than 1,000 diplomats, officials of international organizations, journalists and religious officials to visit Xinjiang, and they have witnessed Xinjiang's remarkable achievements.

"We take note that the Chinese government has extended an invitation to the high commissioner for human rights to visit Xinjiang, and the two sides are keeping in contact on the matter," said the statement.

The 46 nations urged refraining from making unfounded allegations against China based on disinformation. "We are confident that the OHCHR will continue to conduct its work in an objective and impartial manner in accordance with its mandate," the joint statement said, referring to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

An attempt by a small number of Western countries to smear China over Xinjiang-related issues once again ended in failure at the UN Human Rights Council, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday.

Speaking at a regular news briefing, Zhao reiterated that Xinjiang-related issues are not about human rights, ethnicity or religion as some forces claim, but about combating violent terrorism and separatism.

China is working with all parties to ensure that multilateral human rights mechanisms stick to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, deal with human rights issues in an objective, fair and nonselective way and advance the international human rights cause in a sound manner through constructive dialogue and cooperation, he said.

Mo Jingxiand Xinhua contributed to this story.