AdelegationofdiplomatsandofficialsfromtheArabLeagueanditsSecretariatvisittheoldtownofKashgarinnorthwestChina"sXinjiangUygurAutonomousRegion,May31,2023.Afterattendingthe18thseniorofficials"meetingandthe7thseniorofficial-levelstrategicpoliticaldialogueoftheChina-ArabStatesCooperationForum,the34-membergroupvisitednorthwestChina"sXinjiangUygurAutonomousRegionfromTuesdaytoFriday.(Xinhua/GaoHan)

URUMQI,June3(Xinhua)--AdelegationofdiplomatsandofficialsfromtheArabLeagueanditsSecretariatsaidthattheywitnessedadifferentXinjiangfromtheonethathasbeenportrayedbyWesternmedia.

Afterattendingthe18thseniorofficials"meetingandthe7thseniorofficial-levelstrategicpoliticaldialogueoftheChina-ArabStatesCooperationForum,the34-membergroupvisitednorthwestChina"sXinjiangUygurAutonomousRegionfromTuesdaytoFriday.

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ThegroupvisitedanumberoflocationsinXinjiangandsaidthattheregiondoesnotmatchwhatisportrayedbyWesternmedia,anditboastsharmonyandstability,arapidlygrowingeconomyandacolorfulandprosperousculture,withresidentslivingandworkinginpeaceandcontentment.

WhilevisitinganexhibitiononXinjiang"santi-terrorismandderadicalizationworkinUrumqi,theregionalcapital,thedelegationhailedXinjiang"sremarkableachievementsinrespectingandsafeguardinghumanrights.

MohammedHajIbrahim,director-generaloftheDepartmentofAsianandAfricanAffairsundertheSyrianMinistryofForeignAffairs,saidthatChinahasmadeconstructivecontributionstothefightagainstterrorismandextremism.Internationalcooperationoncounter-terrorismshouldbestrengthened,includingtheexchangeofinformationandexperience,hesaid.

ElhassanMohamedMusbhaRabha,divisionheadoftheDepartmentofAsianandAustralianAffairsundertheForeignMinistryofGovernmentofNationalUnityofLibya,saidthatChinahasmadegreateffortstoensurethefreedomofreligiousbelief,andthatpeopleofallethnicgroupscanlivetogetherinharmony.

ThedelegationvisitedtheIdKahMosqueandtheoldtownofKashgar,some1,500kmsouthwestofUrumqi.MohamedMoustafaKamalMohamed,permanentrepresentativeofEgypttotheArabLeague,saidhewasverygladtoseethatthehistoricmosqueinKashgariswellpreservedandequippedwithmodernfacilities.

ThegrouppraisedChina"s7-billion-yuan(about987millionU.S.dollars)renovationoftheoldtownofKashgar,anancientSilkRoadcitywithahistoryofover2,000years.

MohanadA.A.Alaklouk,permanentrepresentativeofPalestinetotheArabLeague,saidhewasveryhappytoseetheancientbuildingsandexperiencethelong-standingcultureoftheoldtownofKashgaronhisfirsttriptoXinjiang.

TheChinesegovernmenthasmadehugeeffortstorenovatetheoldtownandpreserveitswonderfulculturalheritage,andalltheseeffortsandachievementsareimpressive,hesaid.

ThedelegationalsovisitedtheUrumqiInternationalLandPortArea.Xinjianghasdonewellinallitsundertakingsanditsinfrastructureiscomplete,totallysurpassingexpectations,saidMohamedMoustafaKamalMohamed.

MohammedHajIbrahimsaidthechangestakingplaceinXinjianghaveprovedthatChinahasdoneagreatdealtosecurejobsandsupportlocaleconomicdevelopment.■

AdelegationofdiplomatsandofficialsfromtheArabLeagueanditsSecretariatvisitaworkshopmakingtraditionalethnicmusicalinstrumentsinKashgar,northwestChina"sXinjiangUygurAutonomousRegion,May31,2023.Afterattendingthe18thseniorofficials"meetingandthe7thseniorofficial-levelstrategicpoliticaldialogueoftheChina-ArabStatesCooperationForum,the34-membergroupvisitednorthwestChina"sXinjiangUygurAutonomousRegionfromTuesdaytoFriday.(Xinhua/GaoHan)