Diplomat: Stability key to Xinjiang gains

GENEVA - A senior Chinese diplomat said stability and security are indispensable to development and enjoyment of human rights, and only with overall social stability can the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region achieve progress.

Chen Xu, head of the Chinese mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva, spoke at a side event on Wednesday on China's human rights protection of ethnic minorities during the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Chen said Xinjiang is enjoying the fastest development and greatest stability it has ever seen. He said Xinjiang's gross domestic product topped 1.2 trillion yuan ($174.5 billion) in 2018. Between 2014 and 2018, 2.3 million people in Xinjiang were lifted out of poverty. Last year, Xinjiang received 150 million tourist visits, a figure expected to reach 200 million in 2019.