Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has slammed allegations of "forced labor" in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, calling the allegations "ridiculous."

"People want jobs," he said during his interview on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS which aired on Sunday. "We provide training, we provide job opportunities. Now more people have more jobs, have better income, and they could lead a better life."

According to the senior Chinese diplomat, the job training centers are part of the efforts to alleviate poverty in the region. 

Read more:

Fact Check: Lies on Xinjiang-related issues vs. the truth

Former Xinjiang trainees share their training center experiences

According to an official release by the Chinese government, "Education and training centers have been established with the goal of educating and rehabilitating people guilty of minor crimes or law-breaking and eradicating the influence of terrorism and extremism." 

Official statistics show that from 2010 to 2018, the Uygur population in Xinjiang grew by 20-plus percent. 

Ambassador Cui also highlighted visits to the region by thousands of journalists and diplomats from over 100 countries. "You cannot say none of them are independent. You cannot say they don't make any observation," Cui said. "Why don't people listen to these people?"

Full text: Ambassador Cui Tiankai's interview on CNN