New York (People's Daily) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi debunked rumors about China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with facts on Tuesday. 

(Photo: Li Liang/ the People's Daily)

Wang spoke at a dinner co-hosted by the National Committee on US-China Relations, US-China Business Council, US Chamber of Commerce and Council on Foreign Relations.

Wang said people in Xinjiang have been suffering from extremism and terrorism for more than two decades. Since 1990, thousands of terrorism cases have occurred in Xinjiang and caused huge casualties and severe damage to the basic human rights of local people.

Recently, the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region adopted a series of anti-terrorist measures. However, these measures were deliberately denigrated and attacked by some anti-China forces in the international community. 

"The Chinese government has always attached importance to the stability and development of Xinjiang, and the protection of religions and culture of Xinjiang." Wang said.

Since the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 64 years ago, the economy of this region has increased 80 times, lifting thousands of people out of poverty. 

Xinjiang has over 28,000 places of worship, and nearly 30,000 clerical personnel. Both figures have increased by 10 times in decades. At present, 530 Muslims share one mosque on average, which is higher than in many Muslim countries.

Wang also emphasized that fighting terrorism reflects the common concepts advocated in the international community. This is exactly what Xinjiang has done, and has achieved fruitful results. Over the past three years, no violent terrorist case has happened in Xinjiang.

"Rumors find no market among the fair-minded and pale in the face of facts," Wang said.