Recently, the US issued an annual human rights report related to Xinjiang, once again accusing China of implementing “forced labor” against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang and sanctioned China’s two officials and three companies. This move distorts facts, fabricates something out of nothing and violates the international law and the basic norms of international relations. The move constitutes grave interference in China’s internal affairs and undermines the lawful rights and interests of relevant Chinese officials and companies. We firmly oppose and strongly condemn the move.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to and safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of the people in Xinjiang, implementing proactive employment policies. Xinjiang has formulated and implemented a series of autonomous regional regulations based on local conditions, including measures for implementing the national Employment Promotion Law, Regulations on Labor and Social Security Supervision and so on. These laws and regulations provide a solid legal guarantee for citizens in Xinjiang to enjoy equal rights to work. Xinjiang also assist key groups to obtain stable employment. The local government has adopted a policy to encourage surplus rural labor to work in or near their hometowns, developing “satellite factories” and “poverty alleviation workshops” in light of local conditions to create jobs, supporting rural organisations for labor service cooperation to facilitate employment, promoting Industrial Development Zones (IDZs) to stabilise employment, and developing tourism to boost........

© The Express Tribune