China's Foreign Ministry on Monday refuted U.S. claims of repression in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 

Spokesperson Geng Shuang called the criticism groundless slander at a regular press briefing.  

"In the past months, to raise the international community's understanding about Xinjiang's social and economic development, China invited diplomatic envoys from various countries and foreign press to visit Xinjiang," Geng said, emphasizing that the people who have been on the trips felt for themselves Xinjiang's calm and order, and saw different minority groups living and working together happily.  

"They gave positive remarks on China's policies in the region," Geng noted.

The U.S. criticism "does not accord with the facts", he added. "It is nothing but slanders."

Geng reiterated that Xinjiang is enjoying political stability with economic development and social harmony, expressing strong opposition to the U.S. interfering in China's internal affairs using Xinjiang-related issues. 

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