World Politics

China says door to Xinjiang 'always open' but UN rights boss should not prejudge

Key Points
  • China said on Tuesday that it was discussing a visit to its Xinjiang region by United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet.
  • Bachelet said reports about arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, sexual violence and forced labour in Xinjiang necessitated a thorough and independent assessment of the situation.
This photo taken on June 4, 2019 shows the Chinese flag flying over the Juma mosque in the restored old city area of Kashgar, in China's western Xinjiang region.
Greg Baker | AFP | Getty Images

China said on Tuesday that it was discussing a visit to its Xinjiang region by United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, but that she should not set out with the aim of condemning its practices.

Bachelet said on Friday that reports about arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, sexual violence and forced labour in Xinjiang necessitated a thorough and independent assessment of the situation.

"The door to Xinjiang is always open, and we welcome the High Commissioner
to visit Xinjiang. Communication is kept up between the two sides, but the aim
of the visit is to provide exchanges and cooperation rather than ... so-called
investigation based on 'guilty before proven'," China's delegation told the U.N.
Human Rights Council in Geneva.