BEIJING, Nov. 19 (INP): China has rejected the malicious propaganda regarding human rights situation in Xinjiang, stating that some Western diplomats’ intention to visit the region is based on ill-founded information.

Officials said here on Monday that China has already released a white paper to explain efforts and achievements in the region's languages, customs, religions and cultural heritage in the past half century.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese central government has attached great importance to documenting and protecting the excellent traditional ethnic cultures in Xinjiang, and ensuring that they are passed on to succeeding generations.

Released by the State Council - China's cabinet, the white paper stressed that ethnic cultures in Xinjiang are an inseparable part of Chinese culture.

Since ancient times, Xinjiang has been home to various ethnic groups, where different ethnic cultures coexist and integrate.

The white paper is a "timely and necessary" move to "correct misunderstandings and ongoing rumors" from foreign media and politicians on the development of Xinjiang, Zhu Weiqun, former head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, told the local media.

A group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing, spearheaded by Canada, is seeking a meeting with the top Xinjiang official for an "explanation" of alleged rights abuses against Uyghurs, Reuters reported last week.

Calling the request "rude and unacceptable," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that China hopes the ambassadors fulfill their responsibility of offering a faithful and comprehensive understanding of China instead of making "unreasonable" request based on hearsay.

"Xinjiang is an open region and we welcome the ambassadors to visit for goodwill reasons," Hua said at the daily briefing.

"However, if they are coming with prejudice and vicious motives to interfere in China's domestic affairs, the answer is a resolute no," she said.

The cultural sector has been a battleground to enhance ethnic identity and unity in the region, Zhu noted.

For a long time, some domestic and foreign forces have been plotting to separate Xinjiang from China, and while they see little chance of succeeding through political or military means, the forces are targeting the cultural sector, he added.

INP/J/LK