Wang said China opposed “economic bullying” and would fight back, adding that authorities had recently drawn up a medium and long-term development plan for Xinjiang’s textile and garment industry.
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Xi, Biden discuss Taiwan and Xinjiang in first in-person meeting
His words came at a meeting of the Xinjiang delegation on Friday at China’s annual “two sessions”, the country’s biggest political gathering during which the top legislature and political advisory body meet to review policies and set the year’s agenda.
Wang acknowledged that Western sanctions had had some effect but implied that the region had moved on.
“At the beginning of the sanctions, some export-oriented companies had trouble shipping their products abroad and suffered losses and cut jobs, which created difficulties and challenges,” Wang said.
“But our development has never depended on anyone’s charity, and we are not afraid of unfair pressure. This spirit, deeply rooted in the Chinese people’s history, has helped build a resilience that makes us stronger under pressure.”
The US has imposed sanctions on a large number of Chinese companies over allegations of human rights abuses, which Beijing repeatedly denies.