What happens in Xinjiang is purely Beijing's internal matter: Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi revealed the truth about northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on Tuesday, refuting rumours made by anti-China forces about the situation in the remote Chinese region.

Addressing 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 on in New York City, Wang said that what happens in Xinjiang is purely China's internal affair, which, however, has been deliberately discredited and attacked by some anti-China forces in the world.

Wang said the Chinese government values the protection of religious freedom in Xinjiang.

He said the number of religious sites has grown tenfold in the last five decades. Now, an average of 530 Muslims in Xinjiang have a mosque, which is higher than that in many Islamic countries, he noted.

Wang said the major tasks of fighting terrorism and violence have been largely successful, adding Xinjiang has not seen any terrorist attack in three years.

"Rumors find no market among the fair-minded and are pale in face of facts. What the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has done is for the sake of the happiness of the 25 million people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. It also makes a greater contribution to the international counter-terrorism cause. So we are open and aboveboard about this," said Wang.

The Chinese foreign minister said that over 1,000 foreign diplomats, scholars and media representatives have visited the region and that they agree some reports from Western media are misleading. He pointed out that 50 countries have jointly submitted a notice not long ago in support of China to the UN Human Rights Council.