AS the auspicious crescent Moon glows, Muslims get together to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The month of Ramadan, which has just drawn to a close, is the most sacred and auspicious month in Islam where Muslim friends from all walks of life, amidst peace and harmony, purify their body and soul, observe the fast and prayers, perform good deeds, and uphold the tradition of solidarity, cooperation, friendship and mutual assistance.
Not only is Aidilfitri the most important festival for Muslims, it is also a time to get together and celebrate.
On behalf of the Embassy of China in Malaysia and in my personal capacity, I would like to extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to all Malaysian Muslim friends. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!
Perhaps, some Malaysian friends may not know that China, as a multiethnic and multicultural country, is also home to a vibrant Islamic culture.
For more than 1,300 years since its spread to China, Islamic culture has integrated and flourished with Chinese culture. Currently, there are over 20 million Muslims of various ethnic groups across China, living in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region as well as many other places.
Just like Muslim brothers and sisters around the world, they too are now celebrating the festive season together with their family and friends after a month of fasting, self-strengthening and doing good deeds.
While Malaysian friends are enjoying their lemang, chicken rendang and ketupat, Xinjiang Muslims feast on a variety of delicacies such as fried sanzi (dough twist), grilled lamb and baked buns.
When the streets of Malaysia are blasting the festive song Balik Kampung, the public squares at Urumqi Grand Bazaar, Id Kah Mosque and other landmarks are packed with Uighur, Hui, Kyrgyz and various Muslim ethnic groups singing and dancing their hearts out.
Located in the heart of ancient Silk Road, Xinjiang is where Eastern and Western civilisations meet, serving as the bridge for the arrival of Islam, Buddhism and Christianity to China.
Since ancient times, it has been a place where diverse ethnic groups live together, where different cultures interact, and where various religions coexist.
Today, all 56 ethnic groups of China can be found living in Xinjiang, forming a big family that lives in harmony with each other.
Primary and secondary education in Xinjiang are taught in seven languages, the Xinjiang People's Broadcasting Station airs shows in five different minority languages, while the Quran is translated and published in multiple languages.
There are 24,400 mosques in Xinjiang, with an average of one mosque for every 530 Muslims. People of various ethnic groups singing and dancing at the square in front of Id Kah Mosque is the most vivid illustration of a harmonious Xinjiang.
For years, Xinjiang saw a robust economic growth, and people's living standards have overall improved. From 1978 to 2021, Xinjiang's GDP increased 409 times to 1.6 trillion yuan (about US$250 billion), while per capita GDP increased 197 times to 62,000 yuan (about US$9,600), thus achieving leapfrog development.
Xinjiang has been actively advancing its science and technology to improve modernisation and intelligence level across various sectors from agriculture and animal husbandry to petrochemicals.
Its mechanisation rate of cotton planting alone has exceeded 80 per cent and 95 per cent of cotton in northern Xinjiang is picked by machines.
As people's living standards improve, average life expectancy in Xinjiang grew from less than 30 years in 1953 to 74 years in 2020.
Meanwhile, its total population recorded continuous growth, with the Uighur population increasing nearly four times from 3.6 million to 11.62 million, higher than the national average and that of Xinjiang's.
Despite the wonders of Xinjiang, certain countries' media manipulation has been painting a worrying and even horrifying picture of the region in recent years. There is a Uighur saying that goes, "The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on".
Those malicious lies and smears, those ridiculous performances and plays, will not obliterate the indisputable fact that Xinjiang is prosperous and stable, will not stop China's firm steps towards development and progress, and will not undermine China's friendly relations with Islamic countries, including Malaysia.
Both Chinese civilisation and Islamic civilisation advocate the spirit of moderation, peace and benevolence. As a confluence of these two major civilisations, Xinjiang's history, culture and local customs are worth exploring and discovering.
I look forward to more Malaysian friends visiting Xinjiang after the epidemic to admire the beauty of its snow mountain and desert scenery, taste the wonders of its unique delicacies, and feel the warmth of its friendly and harmonious people.
Once again, I would like to extend my festive greetings to all Malaysian Muslim friends. Wishing everyone peace, prosperity and happiness!
The writer is China's ambassador to Malaysia