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Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent

China has strongly condemned the recent visa restrictions on Chinese government and Communist Party officials made by the United States for coming up measures against terrorism and extremism in the Xinjiang region.

The restrictions come barely after the US Commerce Department imposed export restrictions on US companies preventing them from selling their products — particularly face recognition and other surveillance technology to 28 Chinese entities — including the Public Security Bureau and firms involved in surveillance in Xinjiang.

The developments come when Zimbabwe is spearheading an anti-sanctions campaign and Sadc countries have since declared October 25 as solidarity day against the embargo imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries, including the US.

In a statement, the local chapter of China- Africa Economic and Culture Exchange and Research Centre said the US accused China of being involved in mass internment of more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang province.

The organisation said China only introduced a developmental programme for the youths and the US should stop meddling in other nations’ internal affairs as it defeats the principle of global peace.

“The sanctions not only show the ill-intentions of the US government, but show that this is their way of action into meddling into the internal affairs of other countries,” said the Chinese organisation. “This violates state sovereignty of China’s preventive measures against terrorism and extremism which are commendable as it was a necessary action in bringing peace and security to the Xinjiang Autonomous Region.”

“Meddling in the internal affairs of China not only worsens relations between China and those nations, but destroys the global agenda of promoting peace and respect of fundamental principles.”

The restrictions were imposed after China implemented a recruitment drive which was meant to empower youth for national building just like the Zimbabwe’s National Youth policy.

“Likewise, the Zimbabwean Government, in the past initiated similar projects in an effort of bringing peace, security and development to the nation by introducing the National Youth Service,” said the organisation.

“It also aimed to inculcate national values, ethos and ethics into the youth, although it was criticised by the Western countries.

“In the same vein, the US Ggovernment and other Western countries imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, thereby crippling its economy and bringing chaos and mayhem to what was once the breadbasket of Africa.”

China implemented the famous Transformation Through Education Plan which enlisted several thousands of Xinjiang youth aged between 10 and 30 into education and training centres. According to the state counsellor and Foreign Minister of China, Mr Wang Yi, the education and training centres are schools that the people concerned free themselves from the influence of extremism and terrorism, and acquire professional skills that will benefit them.

Since establishment of the programme, no report of violent terrorist attacks has been recorded in the past three years.