<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-12-05/Xinjiang-cotton-industry-calls-for-objective-treatment-of-its-cotton-1z5ozYhL0e4/img/350dfe0047e540df853b999662593dfe/350dfe0047e540df853b999662593dfe.jpeg' alt='Working in a cotton field in Changji Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 11, 2024. /CFP'
The cotton association of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region issued a statement on Thursday, calling on the international community to treat Xinjiang cotton with rationality and objectivity, expressing hope that Japanese brand Uniqlo would restore its use of Xinjiang cotton, following recent remarks by the company’s founder, Tadashi Yanai.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Yanai claimed that Uniqlo no longer sources cotton from Xinjiang. In its response, the Xinjiang cotton association highlighted that cotton from the region is among the best in the world.
The association emphasized the region’s significant contribution to the global textile industry, providing high-quality cotton that not only meets domestic and international demand but also supports local economic growth. The association said Xinjiang’s cotton industry has created job opportunities for many residents, lifting numerous families out of poverty, and with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Xinjiang cotton has become a key commodity connecting global markets, prized for its superior quality.
The association criticized the U.S. for politicizing human rights issues to unjustly target Xinjiang cotton. It accused the U.S. of spreading baseless allegations regarding “forced labor” and other accusations in an attempt to undermine the livelihoods of Xinjiang’s workers. The statement argued that such actions deprive the region’s people of their right to improve their lives through legitimate employment.
Further emphasizing the region’s development, the association noted that the Xinjiang cotton industry has made significant strides in mechanization, sustainability and innovation. The industry now boasts a 100 percent mechanization rate for cotton planting, and the mechanized harvesting rate has reached approximately 90 percent. These advancements have made cotton production a crucial pillar of the local economy, contributing to the increasing prosperity of the region’s people, the association said.
“We urge the international community and textile companies to approach anti-Xinjiang rhetoric with careful and rational analysis, based on objective facts. We hope that global brands like Uniqlo will respect and trust Xinjiang cotton, resuming its use to support the healthy and stable development of the global cotton and textile industry,” the statement read.
At a Foreign Ministry press conference on Thursday, spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that there is no “forced labor” in Xinjiang and reaffirmed China’s strong stance against such practices, which it has actively worked to eliminate. Lin called on the international community to refrain from spreading misinformation and invited foreign visitors to experience the realities of Xinjiang firsthand.
