MK sportsheld during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March7, 2025. Photo: Suo Yanqi/GT" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-03-07/af660471-a946-4393-ba83-4fc99b3a2ff9.jpeg" />

A group meeting of deputies from the delegation of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is held during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March7, 2025. Photo: Suo Yanqi/GT

A group meeting of deputies from the delegation of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held on Friday during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing. At the meeting, NPC deputy Ma Xingrui, who is also the Party chief of the region, refuted the so-called “forced labor” claims propagated by the US.

Ma said that the biggest “challenge” Xinjiang region faces currently is the false narratives imposed by the US and the West, which disregard facts and reality. Without setting foot in Xinjiang, they arbitrarily label and smear the region. "Under the guise of human rights, ethnicity, and religion, they fabricate claims and distort the truth," said Ma. 

In response to sanctions imposed by some countries on Chinese enterprises under the pretext of so-called "forced labor," Ma said that such moves aim to push Xinjiang region back into poverty and underdevelopment.

Wang Mingshan, deputy director of the Standing Committee of Xinjiang Regional People's Congress, also said at the meeting that some countries have imposed sanctions on Chinese enterprises under excuses of "forced labor," but these claims are entirely inconsistent with the facts. Such actions severely undermine the legitimate rights of Xinjiang enterprises and infringe upon the employment and development rights of workers from all ethnic groups in the region.

Wang introduced that the region has consistently worked to improve labor conditions, ensuring that all workers can work in an environment that is free, equal, safe, and dignified. Workers of all ethnicities in Xinjiang fully enjoy their legal rights, including equal employment and career choice, fair remuneration, rest and leave, labor safety and health protections, vocational training, social insurance and benefits, and the right to seek legal recourse in labor disputes. 

"Xinjiang will not allow itself to be trampled on or bullied!" said Wang. 

In response to the baseless sanctions imposed by some countries on Chinese enterprises, Wang said that a resolution opposing a series of US sanctions related to Xinjiang region and providing support for affected companies was passed at the Standing Committee of the 14th Xinjiang Regional People's Congress in August 2024. This was a decisive move for Xinjiang to use legal means to counter hegemony and power politics, said Wang.

Wang also noted that recently, some Chinese enterprises have taken legal action against organizations and institutions that have long spread lies of so-called "forced labor" in Xinjiang. The region encourages and supports more enterprises in using legal tools to defend their legitimate rights and interests.

"Come to Xinjiang, take a walk, see for yourself – you're free to look at anything you want. Experience the real Xinjiang firsthand, and don't be misled by certain countries or media outlets that deliberately smear Xinjiang," Ma said at the meeting. 

From October 12 to 17, 2024, the 6th World Media Summit was held in Beijing and Xinjiang region. The event brought together over 500 representatives from 208 mainstream media outlets, government agencies, UN bodies, and international organizations across 106 countries and regions. Ma said that after visiting Xinjiang region, participants saw the reality for themselves: "Where is the 'forced labor'? Where is the 'genocide'? None of it exists!"