Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and others defend China over their treatment of Uighur Muslims in UN letter

UN ambassors from 37 countries released a letter Friday defending China's treatment of Uighur and or mirities in Xinjiang region, in direct response to Western criticism earlier this week.

Envoys from across EU -- along with Australia, Cana and Japan and New Zealand -- h earlier co-signed a text deuncing China's conduct in Xinjiang, where one million people, mostly ethnic Uighurs, are reportedly being held in internment camps.

On Friday a diverse group of states -- including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Algeria and rth Korea -- replied on Beijing's behalf.

"We commend China's remarkable achievements in field of human rights," said letter, also signed by Myanmar, Philippines, Zimbabwe and ors.

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"We take te that terrorism, separatism and religious extremism has caused ermous dam to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang," it said.

Rights groups and former inmates describe internment sites in Xinjiang as "concentration camps" where mainly Muslim Uighurs and or mirities are being forcefully assimilated into China's majority ethnic Han society.

Echoing China's defence of camps, Friday's letter described m as "vocational education and training centres." "w safety and security has returned to Xinjiang," it said.

group of ambassors asked for letter to be recorded as an official document of Human Rights Council, which wrapped up its 41st session in Geneva on Friday.

Western diplomats h me same request.

Beijing on Thursday dismissed Western letter as "slander." tit-for-tat open letters is rare at UN's top rights body, where states typically try to hammer out formal resolutions during closed-door negotiations.

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After initially denying ir existence, Beijing has gone on a public relations blitz in a bid to counter global outcry against what it calls "vocational education centres" in Xinjiang.

Since last October, local government has also organised tours of camps for diplomats and media outlets.

UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has requested a fact-finding mission to Xinjiang.

Beijing has said she is welcome, but rights office has stressed that a visit will be only possible on certain conditions -- including unfettered access to key sites.