Progress, Xinjiang's answers to those who slam it

The white paper on employment security in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region that the State Council Information Office published on Thursday outlines how people of different ethnic groups in Xinjiang have benefited from the government's pro-employment policies and practices from 2014 to 2019.

Like anywhere in the world, employment directly concerns social stability and people's livelihoods. Plenty of jobs have been created in the region, something of vital importance to lift people out of poverty, and maintaining social stability.

It was absolutely necessary, as the white paper indicates, for governments at various levels in Xinjiang to give priority to the creation of jobs, and they actually left no stone unturned in helping residents solve the unemployment problems.

Thanks to their efforts, the working population in Xinjiang increased from 11.35 million in 2014 to 13.30 million in 2019. Notably, the other reason behind the impressive figures is that the quality of labor has improved dramatically in Xinjiang because of the progress the region has made thanks to education. It is fair to say that the quality of education in Xinjiang today is the best it has ever been in history. In 2019, the number of college students in Xinjiang was about 453,800, which is 146,200 more than that in 2014; and the number of middle school students in 2019 was 1.84 million, 147,200 more than in 2014.

Particularly, Xinjiang has provided 1.28 million person-times vocational education and training to local residents over the past five years, which has effectively enhanced the people's competitiveness in the job market.

Statistics show that between 2014 and 2019, the annual average per capita disposable income in Xinjiang rose from 23,200 yuan ($3,427.63) to 34,700 yuan for urban residents, and 8,724 yuan to 13,100 yuan for rural residents.

Western politicians who criticize China's policies use disinformation about Xinjiang to portray the region as one where people have no means of livelihood, and most probably they will again turn a blind eye to these figures and facts. However, the fact remains that Xinjiang is at its best stage of development in history, and local residents, including the Uygur people, have benefited tremendously from it.

The development in Xinjiang is the best counterattack against the smears directed at it.