China News Service, Beijing, March 29 (Li Jingze) In response to the claim that the Chinese government is encouraging people to boycott foreign goods, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on the 29th that some people in the United States not only stigmatize Xinjiang cotton, but also seriously It hurts Xinjiang's cotton plantation industry and China's overall economic interests, and attempts to separate the Chinese government from public opinion. How poisonous it is!
A reporter asked a question. In response to the Chinese people's spontaneous boycott of foreign companies that refuse to use Xinjiang cotton, the spokesperson of the US State Department said that this was led by the Chinese government and condemned it.
The White House press secretary stated that China uses the dependence of foreign companies on the domestic market to suppress freedom of speech. What's China's comment on this?
Zhao Lijian said that some people in the United States not only stigmatize Xinjiang cotton and seriously damage Xinjiang's cotton planting industry and China's overall economic interests, but also try to separate the Chinese government from public opinion. How poisonous is their heart!
He said that we have said more than once that there is no so-called "forced labor" in cotton production in Xinjiang. The income of cotton pickers is high. Xinjiang cotton pickers sign labor contracts with cotton growers on the basis of equality, voluntariness, and consensus. What kind of "forced".
According to data from the Xinjiang Agricultural Department, the harvesting rate of cotton machinery in Xinjiang in 2020 has reached 70%.
Zhao Lijian said that as far as he knows, growers can order machine-picking services through the mobile APP without leaving home. It can be said that cotton picking has entered the "Internet +" era.
At this time, a small group of countries and individuals are still making up stories about the so-called "forced labor". Is it true that they mean forced machine labor?
Zhao Lijian pointed out that he also noticed that the Shanghai Representative Office of the Swiss Better Cotton Development Association recently issued a statement saying that since 2012, the project team in China has conducted credibility audits and verifications of Xinjiang project sites over the years, and never found a single case. Forced labor".
"We can't help asking, since the association did not find'forced labor', where did the conclusion of'forced labor' come from? Please come up with conclusive evidence!"
Zhao Lijian said that some people also accused the Chinese government of inciting nationalist sentiments and encouraging people to boycott foreign products.
"For the foreign companies to refuse to use Xinjiang cotton with just a lie, this is a living negative teaching material. Of course, it will arouse the resentment and anger of the Chinese people. Does this need the government to encourage and guide? For the Chinese people, these People’s rumors and smears are the best patriotic education."
Zhao Lijian said that the United States also slandered China for “behind the scenes manipulation,” which reminded him of the video that his colleague played at a press conference last week: former US Secretary of State Powell’s Office Director and former Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson in 2018 The speech at Ron Paul College in August fully demonstrated that the United States and the West had a huge conspiracy on Xinjiang-related issues. They tried to disrupt Xinjiang and curb China’s development. Their smearing of Xinjiang cotton was part of the conspiracy.
Zhao Lijian said that returning to the topic of Xinjiang cotton, he also wanted to emphasize that doing business should pay attention to respect, while making money from Chinese consumers, while facing China's slander attacks and harming China's interests.
As a saying goes, eating Chinese food and smashing Chinese pots, how can there be such a beautiful thing in the world?
"The Chinese market is always open. We welcome foreign companies to invest and start businesses in China, and always create a good environment for companies from all over the world to invest in China. We also hope that relevant companies will operate in China in compliance with laws and regulations and not become a tool of certain political forces. Don't challenge China's public opinion." Zhao Lijian stressed.
(Finish)