China issues white paper on protecting rights of Xinjiang's ethnic groups

BEIJING - China's State Council Information Office Wednesday issued a white paper (full text) detailing the country's progress in protecting the rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region over the past 70-plus years.

Here're some of the highlights:

Freedom of religious belief

- Lawful religious practices protected (Read more)

- No terrorist incident in Xinjiang for over 4 years due to counter-terror efforts (Read more)

- Xinjiang combats extremism to safeguard personal liberty

- Islam carried on in sound, orderly manner

- Venues for religious activities improved

- More than 40 Islamic publications distributed

Economic rights

- Xinjiang's GDP increases 160 times in 65 years

- Average life expectancy grows to 74.7 years

- People's right to work protected

Almost all those with the ability to work have been provided with jobs in Xinjiang. From 2014 to 2020, the total employed population in Xinjiang grew from 11.4 million to 13.6 million. (Read more)

- All Xinjiang villages have access to asphalt and concrete roads, broadband services

- Xinjiang has highest number of civil airports in China

- Rural residents' per capita disposable income up over 100 times