China Hosts Xinjiang Trade Forum Amidst Forced Labor Allegations
China is hosting an international conference in Xinjiang to promote economic development in the region, which has been previously marked by mass detentions of ethnic minorities. The International Conference for Trans-Altai Subregional Cooperation is taking place in Altay, with officials from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and other nations discussing trade and economic cooperation. China aims to develop industries such as coal, oil, gas, and cotton in Xinjiang. Chen Xiaojiang, secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xinjiang Committee, highlighted Xinjiang as a symbol of China's rapid economic development. Despite these efforts, the region has been criticized for human rights abuses, particularly against the Uyghur population. Activists claim forced participation in government jobs programs is widespread, a situation that is reportedly increasing under China's latest five-year economic plan.