That people of all ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region enjoy stability, security and development on an equal footing, with unprecedented, tangible and happy lives, is the greatest human right, said Xu Guixiang, a spokesman for the regional government.

Xu made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing on March 17 during the ongoing 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which started in Geneva on Feb 28.

He said some countries ignore the truth and use the so-called human rights issue in Xinjiang to attack and smear China. The truth is that Xinjiang attaches great importance to respecting and safeguarding human rights and always adheres to the people-centered development concept, he said.

The region always puts people first and continually improves employment, education, social security, medical care and pensions, while promoting economic development, democratic politics, fairness and justice, and social governance, he said. "The level of human rights protection has been enhanced on all fronts," he said.

Xu said protecting human rights is not just a verbal promise but practical action.

In the 70 years since New China was founded, Xinjiang's cause of human rights development has achieved significant results, he added.

However, at the UN Human Rights Council, the United States repeated the cliches of so-called human rights violations and genocide in Xinjiang, he said.

"We warn the anti-China forces in the US and the West that Xinjiang is a stable and peaceful place, so do not incite trouble and stir up chaos," he said.

"As a Uygur proverb goes: 'If you throw stones in the air, beware of hitting your own head'."

Elijan Anayat, another spokesman for the regional government, said some US politicians should reflect on their own human rights record before commenting on the situation in Xinjiang.

Despite owning the world's most advanced medical equipment and technology, the US has become the country with the highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the world, he said.

He noted that the US has intensifying domestic racial conflicts and inequalities, with the number of hate crimes against Asians in New York City soaring by 361 percent last year, compared with 2020.

With a deteriorating human rights situation criticized by the international community, the US government does not reflect on its own problems but points fingers at other countries. This fully reveals their double standards and hypocrisy on human rights issues, he said.

"A great number of facts have proved that the US is the biggest destroyer of human rights in the world." he said.

"The US should be ashamed of itself and face up to and correct its own human rights evils, rather than pointing fingers at other countries."