On the road to poverty alleviation and building a moderately prosperous society, no ethnic group or individual has been left behind, and as Chinese-style modernization advances, no ethnic group or individual can be left behind either, said Bayanqolu, the chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Committee, adding, “Which other country or political party can achieve this?”
The law, which was passed on March 12 and will take effect on July 1, defines the protection of the legal rights of citizens seeking employment and entrepreneurship to further safeguard the equal development rights of people from all ethnic groups. There is absolutely no so-called “forced migration” or “forced labour” in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, as claimed by some Western organizations and media, said Chen Ruifeng, director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, at the news conference.
“All Xinjiang residents who seek employment outside the region do so of their own free will, based on personal desires to improve their family life and enhance their skills,” Chen said, adding that claims of “forced migration” or “forced labour” are “extremely absurd and ridiculous”.