BEIJING, August 6 (INP): China is a country of rule of law where all the citizens are treated equally, said a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin.

Speaking at a regular news briefing here on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin said a BBC video cut claiming that the Chinese government forced sterilization on Uighur women has no facts and is entirely a fabricated lie.

As a principle, he said China is a rule-of-law country where the citizens' legal rights and interests are protected and crimes cracked down on in accordance with law. All are equal before the law.

The spokesperson added: "Xinjiang is enjoying sustained economic development, social stability, better living standards, unprecedented cultural vivacity and a harmonious coexistence of religions.

Xinjiang-related issues are never about human rights, ethnicity or religion, but about counter-terrorism, anti-separatism and de-radicalization.

The government of Xinjiang Autonomous Region lawfully has fought violent and terrorist crimes while addressing the root causes and advancing de-radicalization.

These measures have proven effective. Over the past three years and more, there has not been a single violent terrorist case in Xinjiang.

They have safeguarded to the greatest extent possible the fundamental rights of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including their rights to life, health and development, thus fully supported and endorsed by people in Xinjiang.

As to the vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang you mentioned, I would like to say that the rights and freedoms of all trainees are fully and truly safeguarded during their training."

INP/javed