A delegation of 32 representatives from several Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries and representatives of the OIC General Secretariat visited the Xinjiang region of the Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China from 16 to 19 October at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delegation visited cities such as Turpan, Hami and Urumqi, the capital of the region, and expressed admiration for the social stability, harmony and mutual development among the different ethnic groups of the region.
The representatives highlighted the potential for cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism, development and countering disinformation, stressing the importance of international unity in the fight against terrorism.
After visiting an exhibition on counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation in Xinjiang, Boubacar Gouro Diall, Mali's representative to the OIC, highlighted the importance of a common global fight against terrorism. He drew attention to the need to unite against this threat and warned that some countries were secretly fomenting terrorism to destabilise others and gain their resources.
Diall also said that China is not the only victim of disinformation and called for greater international cooperation to combat false narratives.
The representative of Côte d'Ivoire to the OIC, Coulibaly Drissa, stressed the importance of social stability for sustainable development. Only with it can we promote global peace," he said.
The delegation also visited local mosques and Islamic institutions. Tajikistan's representative to the OIC, Akram Karimi, commended the Chinese government for protecting human rights and religious freedom and praised the preservation of Xinjiang's ethnic traditions and cultural heritage.
During visits to local e-commerce companies and solar facilities, some representatives expressed interest in expanding economic cooperation with Xinjiang. Cameroonian diplomat Dewa Moustafa highlighted the potential for cooperation in the energy sector, especially given Cameroon's rich solar resources.
"The northern region of Cameroon has abundant solar energy resources, but these are not fully exploited, leading to energy shortages. I hope our country will cooperate with the local government of Xinjiang in the energy sector," Moustafa said.
Hani Abdulwhab M. Kashif, Saudi Arabia's representative to the OIC, praised Xinjiang's achievements, which he considered a source of pride not only for China but also for its friends. He stressed the importance of increasing interaction to present a more accurate picture of Xinjiang to the world.
Many of the delegates, including Naser Kamali Dolat Abadi, Iran's temporary representative to the OIC, who have visited Xinjiang several times, expressed their admiration for the positive atmosphere among the local people who are striving for a better life.
Xinjiang is experiencing rapid development, with different ethnic groups retaining their unique culture and enjoying a high quality of life, according to an Iranian diplomat.
English 
Czech 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
German