People buy fruit at a stall in Lukqun town, Shanshan county in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (ZHEN SHIXIN / FOR CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - China Tuesday criticized some foreign media for smearing China's anti-terrorism and crime-fighting measures in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, saying their reports are driven by ulterior motives.

"Some anti-China forces have made false accusations against China for political purposes," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said in a written statement.

Some anti-China forces have made false accusations against China for political purposes

Lu Kang, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson

The United Nations committee on the elimination of racial discrimination reviewed the situation in China at its 96th session on Aug 10 and 13 in Geneva.

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The committee is the body of independent experts that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its states parties. Governments are obliged to submit regular reports to the committee on how the rights are being implemented.

Lu said the Chinese delegation had given a detailed account of China's new progress in protecting the rights of ethnic minorities and the committee affirmed the efforts and achievements made by the Chinese government.

He said some foreign media have misrepresented the deliberation of the committee and smeared China's anti-terrorism and anti-crime measures in Xinjiang.

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At present, the overall situation of Xinjiang is stable, the momentum of its economic development is sound, and all ethnic groups there live in harmony, said Lu.

"The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang cherish their happy and peaceful life," he said, adding that all rumors and slander will be futile.