Foreign diplomats praise government's efforts in western region

Religious focus

During the tour, the delegation also visited several religious institutions, including the Xinjiang Islamic Institute in Urumqi and the Kazihan Mosque in Turpan, and inquired about the cultivation of religious personnel and the construction and maintenance of religious places.

Ny Keoponha, first secretary of the Cambodian embassy in China, said he had found that people from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have their freedom of religious belief fully respected, and their legitimate religious needs have been continually met. He praised the central government for providing support and convenience for normal religious activities and guaranteeing freedom of religious belief.

The delegation also visited the grand bazaar and local communities, watched music and dance performances and inquired about the progress of China's efforts in poverty reduction and the provision of grassroots services.

In the first half of this year, Xinjiang's tourism industry showed impressive growth, having received 75.9 million visitors, a rise of 46 percent from the same period the previous year. A large part of the tourism boom has been attributed to the sustained and stable development of Xinjiang.

Anwar Alabdulla, the Bahraini ambassador to China, said that about a month ago, Bahrain and many members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation submitted a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council to support the Chinese government's efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

He added that after the tour he would try his best to provide a truthful picture of Xinjiang as a place of beauty, unity and harmony to the world.

Xinhua