West urged to lift Xinjiang sanctions

International experts are urging Western countries, including the United States, to lift sanctions against the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, claiming the measures are based on unsubstantiated allegations of "forced labor" and have caused widespread job losses.

The comments were made on Monday during the International Symposium on Employment and Social Security in Xinjiang, held in Urumqi, the regional capital. More than 210 representatives from 44 countries, regions and organizations attended the event.

According to Xinjiang's regional government, by the end of 2023, sanctions had disrupted operations at more than 100 local enterprises. Sanctioned textile and garment factories were forced to cut production or shut down entirely, resulting in significant layoffs. Despite the challenges, Xinjiang continues to trade with 192 countries and regions, officials said.