Ambassadors gain insights from visits to Xinjiang

Foreign ambassadors to China shared on Wednesday personal experiences of their visits to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and said that lies about Xinjiang won't hinder the region's path to prosperity and success.

Speaking at a reception to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Ismail Hakki Musa, Turkiye's ambassador to China, said he visited Xinjiang twice since he took office in Beijing a year ago.

"During my first visit in July last year to Kashgar and Urumqi, in addition to the ancient sites of our common culture, I also visited modern marketplaces, free trade zones and land port areas. I observed the rapid economic development throughout the region. This allows the people to enjoy the economic and social rights as stipulated by the 'right to development'," he said.

Over 70 foreign diplomats from 49 countries attended the reception held in Beijing by the Xinjiang regional government.

Musa made his second visit to Xinjiang in January, together with a large high-level business delegation from Turkiye. "During this visit, we came to a common understanding that there is great potential for enhanced commercial cooperation between Turkiye and Xinjiang."

He added that to further enhance cooperation with Xinjiang, Turkiye plans to organize another high-level visit to the region in the coming months, which will also involve media and cultural delegations.

Mohammed Hasanein Khaddam, Syria's ambassador to China, said he felt at home when he first visited the regional capital of Urumqi in 2022, as the old street there reminded him of the old streets and bazaars in Damascus and Aleppo.

"Xinjiang is another manifestation of the Chinese success story in modernization, governance, and in eradicating poverty, making a huge leap into prosperity for its people," he said, adding that he is confident that the lies told about China, Xinjiang in particular, by some Western forces cannot hinder the region's path to prosperity and success.

Mohsen Bakhtiar, Iran's ambassador to China, said his trip to Xin­jiang in August allowed him to see the "huge achievements" made by the Chinese government and the people for the development of the region.

"The historical significance of Xinjiang as a vital hub along the ancient Silk Road continues to exist in the modern era. We are reminded of the lasting spirit of connectivity, trade and culture when we stand on the land of Xinjiang," he said.

Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, South Africa's ambassador to China, said that during his visit to Xinjiang in February last year, he experienced the hospitality of the local people, praising their harmonious life and freedom of religious belief.

"They (the Xinjiang people) find strength in their diversity and have learned to live in harmony with each other. ... The young people I interacted with were all proud and confident about the future," he said.

Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the region, said that last year, Xinjiang received a record number of visits from high-level foreign delegations. The doors of Xinjiang will only be more open in the future, he added.