UN ambassadors from 37 countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have released a letter defending China's "contribution to the international <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-government-has-destroyed-graveyard-of-uighur-community-historian-226704">human rights cause</a>" in the Xinjiang region, in direct response to Western criticism earlier this week.

On July 10, a group of 22 countries, including the member states of the European Union, joined by Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, issued a statement urging China to stop the mass detention and arbitrary incarceration of ethnic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uighur-wives-forced-to-drink-alcohol-and-eat-pork-in-chinas-re-education-camps-214757">Uighurs</a> and other Muslims in its western Xinjiang region, The New York Times reported.

On Friday a diverse group of states -- including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Algeria and North Korea -- replied on Beijing`s behalf, claiming China had faced terrorism, separatism and religious extremism in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-spies-tourists-in-xinjiang-232866&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjCnbaFrLHjAhUISY8KHQG-Bz4QFjACegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1hm9yJMhvV9x9Z2dKXq8Fk">Xinjiang</a>, the vast northwest region that is mainly Muslim.

But through counterterrorism measures and vocational training, these states said, China had restored peace and security there.

"We note with appreciation that human rights are respected and protected in China in the process of counterterrorism and de-radicalisation," they said in the letter to the UN.

China denounced the West`s letter as "distortions" and "hypocrisy" of the Western media, and insisted that the region`s people "feel much better and much more happy and secure.

"Chinese diplomats further suggested that China`s experience in tackling terrorism could even be usefully shared with other countries.

China has been condemned internationally for setting up detention camps, which it describes as "education training centres" helping to stamp out "extremism" and give people new skills.

UN ambassadors from 37 countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have released a letter defending China's "contribution to the international human rights cause" in the Xinjiang region, in direct response to Western criticism earlier this week.

UN ambassadors from 37 countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have released a letter defending China's "contribution to the international human rights cause" in the Xinjiang region, in direct response to Western criticism earlier this week. On July 10, a group of 22 countries, including the member states of the European Union, joined by Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, issued a statement urging China to stop the mass detention and arbitrary incarceration of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in its western Xinjiang region, The New York Times reported. On Friday a diverse group of states -- including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Algeria and North Korea -- replied on Beijing`s behalf, claiming China had faced terrorism, separatism and religious extremism in Xinjiang, the vast northwest region that is mainly Muslim. But through counterterrorism measures and vocational training, these states said, China had restored peace and security there. "We note with appreciation that human rights are respected and protected in China in the process of counterterrorism and de-radicalisation," they said in the letter to the UN. China denounced the West`s letter as "distortions" and "hypocrisy" of the Western media, and insisted that the region`s people "feel much better and much more happy and secure. "Chinese diplomats further suggested that China`s experience in tackling terrorism could even be usefully shared with other countries. China has been condemned internationally for setting up detention camps, which it describes as "education training centres" helping to stamp out "extremism" and give people new skills.

37 countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, defend China in UN letter over Xinjiang

US President Donald Trump said he had &quot;great confidence&quot; in an anti-corruption sweep by Saudi Arabia that has seen dozens of high-profile political and business figures arrested.

&quot;I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing,&quot; Trump wrote on Twitter.

&quot;Some of those they are harshly treating have been &#39;milking&#39; their country for years!&quot; added the US president, whose marathon Asia tour moves Tuesday to South Korea.

Saudi authorities have hinted they could widen the crackdown after princes, ministers, as well as billionaire tycoon Al-Waleed bin Talal, were swept up in a weekend purge hours after an anti-graft commission headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was established.

The purge underscores an unprecedented restructuring of the kingdom as Prince Mohammed steps up a dramatic reform drive for a post-oil era while consolidating power before his eventual succession as king.

The US and Saudi Arabia have historically enjoyed close ties, which Trump re-affirmed in May when he visited the country in his first foreign trip since taking office.

Washington and Riyadh announced contracts worth more than $380 billion, including a $110 billion arms deal aimed at countering perceived threats from Iran and radical Islamists.

Trump spoke with King Salman by phone on Saturday, according to a readout from his office, in which he lauded the monarch and his son&#39;s &quot;recent public statements regarding the need to build a moderate, peaceful, and tolerant region&quot; and urged the kingdom to choose Wall Street as a venue for the IPO of oil giant Aramco.

US President Donald Trump said he had 'great confidence' in an anti-corruption sweep by Saudi Arabia that has seen dozens of high-profile political and business figures arrested

US President Donald Trump said he had "great confidence" in an anti-corruption sweep by Saudi Arabia that has seen dozens of high-profile political and business figures arrested. "I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Some of those they are harshly treating have been 'milking' their country for years!" added the US president, whose marathon Asia tour moves Tuesday to South Korea. Saudi authorities have hinted they could widen the crackdown after princes, ministers, as well as billionaire tycoon Al-Waleed bin Talal, were swept up in a weekend purge hours after an anti-graft commission headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was established. The purge underscores an unprecedented restructuring of the kingdom as Prince Mohammed steps up a dramatic reform drive for a post-oil era while consolidating power before his eventual succession as king. The US and Saudi Arabia have historically enjoyed close ties, which Trump re-affirmed in May when he visited the country in his first foreign trip since taking office. Washington and Riyadh announced contracts worth more than $380 billion, including a $110 billion arms deal aimed at countering perceived threats from Iran and radical Islamists. Trump spoke with King Salman by phone on Saturday, according to a readout from his office, in which he lauded the monarch and his son's "recent public statements regarding the need to build a moderate, peaceful, and tolerant region" and urged the kingdom to choose Wall Street as a venue for the IPO of oil giant Aramco.

Trump says Saudi purge targets were 'milking' country

Saudi Arabia will allow women into sports stadiums for the first time from next year, authorities said Sunday, in a landmark move opening up three previously male-only venues to families.

The ultra-conservative kingdom, which has some of the world&#39;s tightest restrictions on women, has long barred women from sports arenas by strict rules on segregation of the sexes in public.

The announcement is in line with powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&#39;s ambitious reforms shaking up the kingdom, including the historic decision to allow women to drive from next June.

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<h5>Starting the preparation of three stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to be ready to accommodate families from early 2018,&#39; the General Sports Authority said on Twitter</h5>
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&quot;Starting the preparation of three stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to be ready to accommodate families from early 2018,&quot; the General Sports Authority said on Twitter.

Restaurants, cafes and video screens would be set up inside the venues, the authority added.

&nbsp;Last month hundreds of women were allowed to enter a sports stadium in Riyadh, used mostly for football matches, in a one-off event to celebrate Saudi Arabia&#39;s national day.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-becomes-the-first-country-to-grant-citizenship-to-a-robot-22983" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Saudi Arabia becomes </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-becomes-the-first-country-to-grant-citizenship-to-a-robot-22983" target="_blank">first</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-becomes-the-first-country-to-grant-citizenship-to-a-robot-22983" target="_blank"> country to grant citizenship to robot</a>

Sunday&#39;s announcement implies that women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed for the first time to attend sporting events inside stadiums alongside men.

Under the country&#39;s guardianship system, a male family member normally the father, husband or brother&nbsp;must grant permission for a woman&#39;s study, travel and other activities. But the kingdom appears to be relaxing some norms as part of its sweeping &quot;Vision 2030&quot; plan for economic and social reforms as it prepares for a post-oil era.&nbsp;Last month a royal decree said women would be allowed to drive. The kingdom is also expected to lift a public ban on cinemas and has encouraged mixed-gender celebrations something unseen before.

&nbsp;&#39;Moderate&#39; Saudi Arabia&nbsp;

&quot;First women driving, now stadiums. What&#39;s next? Nightclubs?&quot; said one Saudi Twitter user, echoing a deluge of social media comments expressing surprise over the accelerating pace of reforms.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/saudi-arabia-to-allow-women-to-drive-5457" target="_blank">WATCH:&nbsp;Saudi Arabia to allow women to drive</a>

In a rare public appearance last week Prince Mohammed pledged a &quot;moderate&quot; Saudi Arabia, long seen as an exporter of a brand of puritanical Islam espoused by jihadists worldwide.

Mohammed bin Salman, as he is well known, promised his kingdom will return to &quot;what we were before&nbsp;a country of moderate Islam that is tolerant of all religions and to the world&quot;.

His comment, while unveiling plans for a $500-billion development zone, chimes with his public image of a bold liberal reformer in a conservative country where more than half the population is under 25. 
But his vision for a new Saudi Arabia is fraught with risks and could trigger a backlash from conservatives, analysts warn.

&quot;Despite the bold statements, it is important to remember that the dominance of conservative thought since the late 1970&#39;s cannot be quickly reversed,&quot; said analysis firm Eurasia Group.&nbsp;

&quot;Ultraconservative and radical elements continue to pose risks.&quot;

The government appears to have clipped the wings of the once-feared religious police long accused of harassing the public with rigid Islamic mores&nbsp;who have all but disappeared from big cities. 
Some conservative clerics&nbsp;who for years staunchly opposed more social liberties for women have backpedaled and come out in favour of the decree allowing them to drive.&nbsp;

The announcement is in line with powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious reforms shaking up the kingdom

Saudi Arabia will allow women into sports stadiums for the first time from next year, authorities said Sunday, in a landmark move opening up three previously male-only venues to families. The ultra-conservative kingdom, which has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, has long barred women from sports arenas by strict rules on segregation of the sexes in public. The announcement is in line with powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious reforms shaking up the kingdom, including the historic decision to allow women to drive from next June. Starting the preparation of three stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to be ready to accommodate families from early 2018,' the General Sports Authority said on Twitter × "Starting the preparation of three stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to be ready to accommodate families from early 2018," the General Sports Authority said on Twitter. Restaurants, cafes and video screens would be set up inside the venues, the authority added. Last month hundreds of women were allowed to enter a sports stadium in Riyadh, used mostly for football matches, in a one-off event to celebrate Saudi Arabia's national day. Also read: Saudi Arabia becomes first country to grant citizenship to robot Sunday's announcement implies that women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed for the first time to attend sporting events inside stadiums alongside men. Under the country's guardianship system, a male family member normally the father, husband or brother must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities. But the kingdom appears to be relaxing some norms as part of its sweeping "Vision 2030" plan for economic and social reforms as it prepares for a post-oil era. Last month a royal decree said women would be allowed to drive. The kingdom is also expected to lift a public ban on cinemas and has encouraged mixed-gender celebrations something unseen before. 'Moderate' Saudi Arabia "First women driving, now stadiums. What's next? Nightclubs?" said one Saudi Twitter user, echoing a deluge of social media comments expressing surprise over the accelerating pace of reforms. WATCH: Saudi Arabia to allow women to drive In a rare public appearance last week Prince Mohammed pledged a "moderate" Saudi Arabia, long seen as an exporter of a brand of puritanical Islam espoused by jihadists worldwide. Mohammed bin Salman, as he is well known, promised his kingdom will return to "what we were before a country of moderate Islam that is tolerant of all religions and to the world". His comment, while unveiling plans for a $500-billion development zone, chimes with his public image of a bold liberal reformer in a conservative country where more than half the population is under 25. But his vision for a new Saudi Arabia is fraught with risks and could trigger a backlash from conservatives, analysts warn. "Despite the bold statements, it is important to remember that the dominance of conservative thought since the late 1970's cannot be quickly reversed," said analysis firm Eurasia Group. "Ultraconservative and radical elements continue to pose risks." The government appears to have clipped the wings of the once-feared religious police long accused of harassing the public with rigid Islamic mores who have all but disappeared from big cities. Some conservative clerics who for years staunchly opposed more social liberties for women have backpedaled and come out in favour of the decree allowing them to drive.

Saudi Arabia to allow women into sports stadiums

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37 countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, defend China in UN letter over Xinjiang

Trump says Saudi purge targets were 'milking' country

Saudi Arabia to allow women into sports stadiums