On March 22, Canadian Aboriginal Newspaper Weetamah published a signed article by Chinese Ambassador to Canada, H. E. CONG Peiwu titled Beautiful Xinjiang, Wonderful Land. Here is the full text:

When foreign friends think of Xinjiang, they may think of its magnificent and impressive desert landscapes. But the beauty of Xinjiang goes far beyond that. Over a decade ago, I visited Xinjiang in the fall and was enchanted by its picturesque and charming landscapes. Even in the bitterly cold winter, tourists' enthusiasm for Xinjiang's unique natural geography remains undiminished. Recently, my colleague made a memorable trip to Xinjiang's Altay region, China's snow capital, during his vacation in China. With excellent natural conditions and state-of-the-art facilities, the ski resorts there rival many well-known ski destinations in Canada.

There's a long list detailing Xinjiang's beauty. However, some Western media have deliberately spread disinformation about Xinjiang. Through this short article, I hope to provide a better understanding and insight into the real Xinjiang.

Xinjiang has made remarkable achievements in the new era.

Located in northwest China, Xinjiang has a vast territory and abundant resources. The region enjoys social harmony and stability, unity among different ethnic groups, a profound culture, and sustainable economic development, with people living and working in peace and contentment. It has achieved a regional gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.8 percent in 2023. Xinjiang, an important hub on the ancient Silk Road connecting East and West, now serves as an essential passage for China-Europe freight trains and the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed more than a decade ago, it has witnessed the connectivity and interaction between China and the Belt and Road partner countries. Two major railway ports in Xinjiang have handled more than 70,000 China-Europe freight trains since they started operation. In addition, Xinjiang remains committed to ecological priority and green development. When traveling along the Tianshan mountain range, wind turbines are expected to complement the snowy peaks and large solar power plants resembling a blue ocean. Unlike in the past, Xinjiang now has no off-season for tourism, as the region sees a steady flow of tourists throughout the year. In 2023, Xinjiang received more than 265 million tourist visits from home and abroad, a record high. The "Xinjiang is a Wonderful Place" brand has been deeply rooted in people's hearts.

The Western world's lies and rumors about Xinjiang will fall apart.

The United States and some Western countries have been fabricating and spreading rumors about Xinjiang, accusing it of "genocide" and "forced labor." These are downright lies and a means of undermining Xinjiang's prosperity and stability and hindering China's development. The truth is that the region has made unprecedented progress in achieving economic and social development and improving people's livelihoods, and has eradicated absolute poverty for the first time in history. Since the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 1955, the Uygur population has increased from over 3 million to over 12 million. The average life expectancy of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang has risen from 30 years to 75.6 years. Isn't this compelling evidence of the protection of human rights? In 2023, Xinjiang's cotton production reached more than 5 million tons, accounting for 91 percent of the country's total. With the development of science and technology, cotton production in Xinjiang has become highly mechanized. Even during the busy cotton harvesting season, there is no need for a large number of cotton pickers. As Akram Memtimin, a deputy from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region delegation, said during China's just-concluded "Two Sessions," "This snow-white cotton is our source of income. We make a good living. We purchase cars and move into modern houses by growing cotton. Do we need to be forced to do so?"

Xinjiang opens its arms to the world. 

Xinjiang's door is always open. In 2023 alone, Xinjiang received more than 4,300 visitors from many countries and international organizations, including government officials, diplomats, religious figures, experts, scholars, and journalists. They saw the stability, development, and happy lives of people from different ethnic groups in Xinjiang. More than 25 million people in Xinjiang have opened their arms wide to the world. We sincerely hope that friends from all over the world, including our Canadian friends, will visit Xinjiang and see it with their own eyes.