The State Council Information Office issued a white paper on Sunday detailing the demographic development in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The white paper, titled "Xinjiang Population Dynamics and Data", says Xinjiang has seen rapid and steady population growth, all-around improvement in the quality of life, higher life expectancy, faster urbanization and modernization, and greater solidarity among ethnic groups over the past 70 years. Such development achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China are a slap in the face to all those anti-China forces who never tire of fabricating lies about Xinjiang.

Xinjiang's demographic development also shows China as a unified multi-ethnic country promoting the healthy development of ethnic minorities. According to the white paper, Xinjiang's population was 25.85 million in 2020, nearly a fivefold increase over 1949. The population of ethnic minorities was 14.93 million last year, 10.48 million more than in 1953. Compared with the backward economic and social development, small population and short life expectancy before the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xinjiang now enjoys all-around economic and social development and social stability, with people of all ethnic groups living and working in peace and stability.

Facts bear out that Xinjiang's achievements cannot be matched with any other period in its history.

In recent years, Xinjiang has de-radicalized its population in accordance with the law, effectively curbing religious extremist interference in the administration, justice, education, marriage and medical care sectors.

In recent years, foreign anti-China forces have turned a blind eye to the improving quality of life in Xinjiang and hyped up such lies as "forced labor", "forced sterilization" and "genocide" by the Chinese authorities. These groundless and absurd accusations are in gross violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations.

By fabricating such lies to demonize China, foreign anti-China forces are trying to hobble China's development and progress. Such sinister schemes are doomed to failure, because more people with conscience are beginning to stand up to expose such lies, opposing the use of human rights issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, and extending support to China.

The Chinese government is committed to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and promoting the unity, common prosperity and development of all ethnic groups. Xinjiang's modernization drive cannot be stopped by anyone or any force, and it will have an even brighter future.