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Chinese embassy holds explanatory event on Xinjiang

By Maram Kayed - Jan 23,2020 - Last updated at Jan 23,2020

AMMAN — China is implementing regional autonomy in areas densely populated with national minorities, and it is committed to the equality of all nationalities and their common development, according to Beijing’s envoy in Amman. 

Speaking during an event on Wednesday held to “explain the history, development, politics, terrorism and security issues” of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Ambassador of China to Jordan Pan Weifang noted that, as the Chinese New Year is coming up in two days, the embassy “wanted to take this opportunity to clear matters up in regards to China’s interests in Xinjiang”.

This event comes at a time when Beijing faces criticism for its policies in Xinjiang.

Weifang noted that China “guarantees the exercise of the autonomy authority” in the autonomous regions. 

“Xinjiang is implementing a policy that respects the freedom of various religious beliefs and guarantees the full freedom of people of all nationalities in accordance with the law, ensuring that religious citizens enjoy the same political, economic, social and cultural rights of non-religious citizens,” the ambassador said. 

He noted that, since the founding of new China seven decades ago, the Chinese central government has invested about 2.35 trillion yuan in Xinjiang to promote social and economic development in the region.

“The Xinjiang region has made a historic leap in economic development, with its economy increasing from 791 million yuan in 1952 to 1.2 trillion yuan in 2018, up 200 times,” the envoy said.

“China has 35,000 mosques in Xinjiang. When adjusted to population per capita, that is more than three times the rate in Western countries,” according to a documentary screened at the event.

The symposium was followed by a photo exhibition showing developments in Xinjiang funded by the Chinese government.

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