中国新疆好地方
Xinjiang, a Good Place in China
驻尼日利亚大使周平剑在《人民报》发表署名文章
Signed Article by Ambassador Zhou Pingjian on the Peoples Daily Newspaper
2019年7月26日
26 July 2019
新疆是中国五个少数民族自治区之一，占全国国土总面积六分之一，常住人口约2500万。
Xinjiang is one of the five ethnic autonomous regions in China which covers an area of about one sixth of the entire country with a population of 25 million.
7月21日，中国国务院新闻办公室发表《新疆的若干历史问题》白皮书，从历史、宗教、民族、文化等角度，明确阐述新疆是中国领土不可分割的一部分，新疆各民族、各文化是中华名族、中华文化的组成部分。尼日利亚拥有超过250个民族，是非洲人口最多的国家，同样中国也是统一的多民族、多宗教国家。
On July 21, The State Council Information Office of China published a white paper on historical matters concerning Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China. From historic, religious, ethnic and cultural perspectives, the white paper clearly explains that Xinjiang has long been an inseparable part of Chinese territory as well as its ethnic groups and cultures. Similar to Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with over 250 ethnic groups, China is also a united multi-ethnic nation founded jointly by the people of all its ethnic groups as well as different religious beliefs.
一段时间以来，一些西方政客、媒体不断攻击中国政府对新疆的治理，诬称新疆出现“大规模侵犯人权”的“集中营”，这完全是耸人听闻、恶意捏造。
For some time, some politicians and media in the western countries continuously attacked China’s policy in Xinjiang, falsely claiming that a large number of “concentration camps” violating human rights have been established there. Nothing could be further from the truth.
三个月前，我第四次前往新疆，一周时间里实地参访当地的教培中心，与教师、学员和学员家属当面交流。我参观了教室、宿舍、食堂、运动场，到处窗明几净，学员欢声笑语。学员们的国语水平和法律意识明显增强。进行缝纫、美发、电子商务等实训的学员动作娴熟，乐在其中。学员对未来充满信心，家属也感到欣慰。
Three month ago, I spent a whole week in Xinjiang and travelled across the region. That was my fourth trip to Xinjiang. I had face-to-face communication with teachers, the trainees and their families in some training centers. I also visited classrooms, dormitories, canteens and sports fields. Everywhere I went, I was impressed by the brightness, cleanness as well as happiness and cheerful voices from the trainees. The level of the national common language and legal awareness of all trainees have been greatly enhanced. The trainees who have practiced sewing, hairdressing and e-commerce are very skilled, and they enjoy it. They become more and more confidence in their future and their families are also gratified.
许多参访过教培中心的外国朋友都说，他们看到的是勤奋的学员们和快乐的校园，所谓“集中营”指控不攻自破。6月18日至21日，15个国家和组织常驻日内瓦代表和主要外交官参观访问新疆，与社区群众、农民、教师、学生等面对面交流。尼日利亚常驻日内瓦代表卡迪里大使说：“我之前看过一些媒体对新疆职业技能教育培训中心的负面报道，和我今天亲眼看到的事实完全不同，他们的报道是虚假的。建立职业技能教育培训中心是中国反恐工作的一种新尝试，这种尝试非常好。”7月12日，包含尼日利亚在内37个国家常驻日内瓦大使联名致函联合国人权理事会主席和人权高专，积极评价中国新疆人权事业发展成就和反恐、去极端化成果，支持中国在涉疆问题上的立场。我们对尼方朋友的支持表示赞赏和感谢。
Many foreign friends who have visited the training centers said that what they saw were diligent students and happy campus, and the so-called accusation of “concentration camps” fell apart. From June 18 to 21, diplomats and representatives based in Geneva from 14 countries and an organization visited Xinjiang and interacted extensively with local residents, farmers, teachers and students in various places across the region. Among them, Nigerian Ambassador Audu Ayinla Kadiri said what he saw was entirely different from some negative media reports on the vocational education and training centers. On July 12, Ambassadors of 37 countries including Nigeria and many members from Organization of Islamic Cooperation sent a joint letter to the President of the UN Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to show their support for China on its “remarkable achievements in the field of human rights”. We highly appreciate the support from our Nigerian friends.
今年是中华人民共和国成立70周年。70年来中国发生历史性变化，人权事业取得历史性进步。中国已成为世界第二大经济体，去年国内生产总值突破13.6万亿美元，形成了世界上最大规模的中等收入群体，连续多年对世界经济增长贡献率超过30%。过去40年我们减少了7.4亿贫困人口，近14亿中国人不愁吃不愁穿，到2020年将实现一个不落的全面脱贫，创造人类发展和减贫史上新的伟大奇迹。这是最大的人权工程，最好的人权故事，也是中国对世界人权事业的最重要贡献。
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The past seven decades have witnessed a great transformation in China and historic progress never seen before in the country’s human rights development. China has grown into the second largest economy in the world, with its GDP surpassing 13.6 trillion U.S. dollars in 2018. It now boasts the world’s largest middle income population and has contributed to over 30% of global growth for many years in a row. Over the past 40 years, China has lifted over 740 million people out of poverty and met the basic needs of nearly 1.4 billion people. And by 2020, we will achieve comprehensive poverty eradication with no one left behind. It is fair to say that China has made a new great achievement in the history of the development and in the history of poverty reduction of the world. This is the largest human rights project, the best human rights story, and also the most important contribution of China to the cause of human rights of the world.
至于新疆正在发生什么变化？我想从四个方面与尼方朋友分享真实故事：
As for what is really happening in Xinjiang, I would like to share the true story from four aspects with Nigerian friends:
第一、新疆经济发展取得巨大进步。70年来，特别是1978年以来，新疆经济持续平稳高质量发展，2018年地区生产总值近2000亿美元。各族人民生活水平大幅提高，城镇、农村居民人均可支配收入分别超过4800美元和1700美元。以就业、教育、医疗、社保等为重点的惠民工程持续推进。2014年至2018年，全疆累计实现230万人脱贫，贫困发生率由19.4%下降至6.1%。今明两年将实现81.71万人脱贫，确保到2020年现行标准下的农村贫困人口全部脱贫、消除绝对贫困，与全国同步全面建成小康社会。
Firstly, Xinjiang is enjoying prominent economic development. Over the past 70 years, especially since 1978, Xinjiang has witnessed sustained and steady high-quality economic development, with its GDP for 2018 exceeding nearly 200 billion U.S. dollars. People’s living standard has greatly improved, with urban and rural residents’ per capita disposable income reaching respectively over 4,800 and 1,700 U.S. dollars. Public-interest projects regarding employment, education, medical services and social security have been moved forward. From 2014 to 2018, a total of 2.3 million people in Xinjiang were lifted out of poverty, with the poverty headcount ratio dropping from 19.4 percent to 6.1 percent. From 2019 to 2020, 817,100 people will shake off poverty. By 2020, all rural residents living below the current poverty line will be lifted out of poverty, absolute poverty will be eradicated as Xinjiang keeps pace with the rest of China in finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
第二、新疆仍面临严峻反恐挑战。虽然新疆各项事业持续发展进步，但也面临严峻挑战。上世纪90年代以来，境内外“三股势力”在新疆策划实施了数千起暴力恐怖事件。我今年四月在乌鲁木齐参观新疆暴恐案例展，展出的大量暴恐图片和视频触目惊心，暴恐行径惨无人道、令人发指。与此同时，宗教极端思想泛滥，也日益助长了恐怖主义。自治区政府依法采取系列措施，既重拳打击暴恐犯罪，又积极探索预防性反恐和去极端化举措，包括建立职业技能教育培训中心，卓有成效，深得人心。
Secondly, Xinjiang is still facing severe challenges of anti-terrorism. Despite the progress Xinjiang has made in various undertakings, Xinjiang is also confronted with challenges. Since the 1990s, the “three forces” of terrorism, separatism and extremism inside and outside China have orchestrated and executed thousands of violent terrorist attacks in Xinjiang. The Exhibition on Major Incidents of Violent Terrorist Attacks in Xinjiang, which I viewed with great shock in late April this year, presents a large number of pictures and video footage about the appallingly cruel acts against humanity committed by violent terrorists. At the same time, the spread of religious extremist thoughts had stoked the terrorist rampage. The government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has taken a series of measures according to law to crack down on violent terrorist crimes on the one hand and actively explored preventive anti-terrorism and deradicalization measures on the other, including setting up vocational education and training centers. These efforts have been effective and won the sincere support of the people.
第三、新疆的教培中心实际上是寄宿学校，而非别有用心者所说的“集中营”。教培中心本质上是一种预防性反恐，是防患于未然，防病于未病和小病，旨在最大限度教育挽救那些受极端思想感染、有轻微违法犯罪行为的人员，避免其成为恐怖主义和极端主义的受害者和牺牲品。学员通过“三学一去”，即学国家通用语言、法律知识和职业技能，实现去极端化目标。学员可以定期回家，有事随时请假，亲属可以来访，还可以视频电话交流。学员达到结业标准后，由学校和政府推荐就业或自主创业等。教培中心免费提供食宿，依法保障学员各项基本权利，满足学员学习、生活、娱乐等需求。开展职业技能教育培训工作是新疆在特殊时期采取的特殊做法，随着反恐形势好转，教培中心的规模会逐步缩小，直至结束。
Thirdly, Xinjiang’s training centers are not “camps” but “campus”. There is no difference between a training center and a boarding school. The vocational education and training program is preventive counter-terrorism in nature and a precautionary step to prevent a disease or treat it in its early stages, as we do in traditional Chinese medicine. It aims to educate and rehabilitate to the greatest extent possible the individuals who have been influenced by extremist ideologies and committed minor offenses, so that they will not be victimized by and fall prey to terrorism and extremism. Courses on the national common language, legal knowledge and vocational skills help the trainees deradicalize themselves. The trainees can go home regularly, ask for a leave when needed, make phone or video calls to their family, and their family can come to the training centers to visit them. Upon completion of the courses, the trainees will be recommended for employment or self-employment by the school and the government. The training centers provide free accommodations and safeguard all basic rights of the trainees in accordance with the law to meet their needs in study, life and entertainment. I must point out that the vocational education and training program is a special measure adopted by Xinjiang at a special time. We will continue to improve the work of the training centers. As the counter-terrorism situation improves, the training program will be gradually downsized, leading to its completion.
第四、新疆是个自由、安全的地方。新疆采取多种措施保护公民宗教信仰自由、保障各族人民文化权利和使用本民族语言文字的权利。新疆有清真寺、教堂、寺院、道观等宗教活动场所2.48万座，有宗教教职人员2.93万人，设有伊斯兰教经学院等10所宗教院校，平均每530位穆斯林就有一座清真寺。少数民族优秀传统文化得到保护和弘扬，维吾尔木卡姆艺术、柯尔克孜史诗《玛纳斯》列入“人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录”。民族语言文字在司法、行政、教育、新闻出版、广播电视、互联网、社会公共事务等领域广泛使用。妇女、儿童、老年人和残疾人权利得到充分尊重和依法保护。新疆稳定红利持续释放，已连续超过30个月没有发生暴恐事件，去年共接待1.5亿人次旅游，预计今年有望达2亿人次。一个有近2亿人次进出的地方，能说不安全、不自由吗？
Fourthly, Xinjiang is a place with freedom and safety. Xinjiang has taken a host of measures to protect citizens’ freedom of religious belief and safeguard their cultural rights and the right of all ethnic groups to use their own ethnic languages. There are 24,800 mosques, churches, Buddhist temples, Taoist temples and other religious venues, 29,300 clerical staff, and 10 religious schools such as the Xinjiang Islamic Institute. For every 530 muslims in Xinjiang, there is a mosques. Fine traditional cultures of ethnic minorities are protected and developed. The Uygur Muqam art and Kirgiz epic Manas have been listed as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Ethnic minority languages are widely used in judicature, administration, education, press and publication, radio and television, the internet and social public affairs. The rights of women, children, the aged and people with disabilities are fully respected and protected by law. The stability dividend has continued to benefit Xinjiang. No case of violent terrorism has occurred for over 30 months in a row. A total of 150 million tourists visited Xinjiang last year, and this year the figure is expected to reach 200 million. Is it fair to label a place that receives nearly 200 million visitors a year as unsafe and not free?
在人权问题上，没有最好，只有更好。我们将继续全方位推进中国人权事业发展，不断满足人民对美好生活的需求和向往，继续携手各国共同在世界范围内促进和保护人权，助力构建人类命运共同体。
When it comes to human rights, no one can claim perfection. So making progress is all important. We will continue to advance human rights development in China in an all-round way to meet people’s needs and aspiration for a better life, and join hands with other countries to promote and protect human rights around the world, with a view to advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
“鞋子合不合脚，自己穿了才知道”。在中国新疆问题上，最有发言权的是新疆各族人民。我们诚挚欢迎尼方朋友到新疆实地考察，感受一个美丽、真实、好客的新疆，一个好地方。
Only a shoe’s wearer knows if it fits. The best-qualified to speak on Xinjiang are the Xinjiang people of all ethnic groups. We sincerely welcome Nigerian friends to make field visits to Xinjiang, and see for yourselves a beautiful, true and hospitable Xinjiang, a good place in north-western China.