China on Monday issued a white paper titled "The Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism and Human Rights Protection in Xinjiang," reiterating its firm stance against all forms of terrorism and extremism and infringement upon citizens' human rights.

Xinjiang, a multi-ethnic region since ancient times, constitutes an integral part of the Chinese nation, said the white paper.

However, terrorist and extremist forces have been beating the drum for separatist activities for a long time by distorting, fabricating and falsifying the history of Xinjiang, exaggerating the cultural differences between ethnic groups, instigating isolation and hatred, and advocating religious extremism, it said.

Incomplete statistics show that from 1990 to the end of 2016, separatist, terrorist and extremist forces launched thousands of terrorist attacks in Xinjiang, killing ordinary people, assassinating religious leaders, endangering public security, attacking government organs, and planning riots.

To fight back, Xinjiang conducted counter-terrorism and de-radicalization in accordance with the law and put the priority on preventive counter-terrorism approach.

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, in order to prevent them from falling victim to terrorism and extremism and to nip terrorist activities in the bud.

"China's fight against terrorism and extremism is an important part of the same battle being waged by the international community; it is in keeping with the purposes and principles of the United Nations to combat terrorism and safeguard basic human rights," the white paper stressed.

Thanks to these measures, Xinjiang becomes a safer place for people at home and abroad. No violent or terrorist activities have occurred in the region for more than two years while the number of criminal cases and public security cases has fallen significantly.

In 2018, Xinjiang received more than 150 million tourists, including 2.4 million foreign travelers.

Xinjiang has also witnessed marked progress in security and people's sense of fulfillment and happiness.

In improving local people's standard of living, the region has realized the transfer employment of 75,000 people from families suffering extreme poverty, based on a three-year poverty-relief plan in southern Xinjiang. Over 1.4 million new urban jobs were created and 8.3 million surplus rural laborers were transferred.

"In the face of these real threats, Xinjiang has taken resolute action to fight terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law, effectively curbing the frequent occurrences of terrorist activities and ensuring, to the maximum extent, the rights to life and development of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang," the white paper said.

Graphics: Fan Chenxiao