China - Q&A from the press briefing (25 September 2020)

Q: Since July, France has repeatedly asked for an international mission under the auspices of the UN to visit Xinjiang to report on concerns over the situation of the Muslim Uyghur minority. What are you doing to promote this initiative?

A: Indeed, we along with our EU partners have spoken out repeatedly to strongly condemn this unacceptable situation. We have called for the closing of the internment camps in Xinjiang and the dispatch of an international mission of independent observers under the supervision of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to investigate on the ground and report objectively on the facts. President Macron reiterated our demand during his speech before the UN General Assembly this week. France will remain active in this regard, both in its bilateral contacts with Chinese officials and within the UN, notably before the Human Rights Council. It will continue to support this demand ahead of the upcoming EU-China dialogue on human rights, scheduled to be held by the end of the year.