“一带一路”倡议提出6年来，受到国际社会越来越广泛的支持和参与，根本上是因为这一合作平台契合了参与方的发展需要，是因为共商共建共享的合作原则得到广泛认同，更是因为合作的成果越来越实实在在地体现在了参与方的经济社会发展和民生就业改善上。

　　意大利是重要的工业化国家和发达经济体。我们欢迎意大利积极参与共建“一带一路”，相信这将为双方的互利合作开辟更广阔的空间，为两国工商界和社会公众带来更多的福祉。

Over the past six years since its inception, the Belt and Road Initiative has been receiving growing support and participation from the international community. Fundamentally, it is because this cooperation platform serves the development needs of all participants, and the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits has been approved worldwide. More importantly, cooperation outcomes have been translated into the economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihood and employment in all participating countries.

Italy is an important industrialized nation and a developed economy. We welcome Italy's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative which we believe will create greater space for mutually beneficial cooperation and bring more benefits to the business communities and the public of our two sides.

　　问：美国务院负责国际宗教自由事务的无任所大使布朗巴克上周访问香港，目前在台湾访问。他在两地都发表了批评中方的强硬言论，包括批评中方对待新疆维吾尔族人的方式。中方对此有何回应？

　　答：这个问题有两个层面。首先我要再次强调，中方坚决反对美方与台湾进行任何形式的官方往来，这一立场是坚定不移的。

Q: The US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, has been in Hong Kong last week and he is currently in Taiwan. He has made some very strong comments critical of China in both places, including criticizing China's treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. What is your reaction?

A: Your question touches on two aspects. First of all, I want to stress again that China firmly opposes any official contacts between the US government and Taiwan. This position is rock firm.

　　第二，关于你提到的美方有关人士发表的一些错误言论，中方对此强烈不满和坚决反对，已就此向美方提出严正交涉。中国政府依法保护公民的宗教信仰自由，中国各族人民依法享有充分的宗教信仰自由。中方一贯坚决反对美方编造或利用所谓宗教问题干涉别国内政。我们敦促美方正视和尊重基本事实，摒弃偏见，谨言慎行，客观看待中国的宗教政策和宗教信仰自由状况，停止利用所谓宗教问题干涉中国内政。

　　至于你提到的这位人士谈到的中国新疆的所谓问题，我要再次强调，新疆事务纯属中国内政，中国新疆自治区设立职业技能教育培训中心是中方采取的预防性反恐和去极端化措施，根本不是美方渲染的所谓“再教育营”。事实证明，新疆采取的反恐维稳措施受到新疆各族人民广泛支持。中方敦促美方摒弃在“反恐怖、反分裂”问题上的双重标准，停止利用所谓涉疆问题干涉中国内政，多做有利于中美互信与合作的事，而不是相反。

Secondly, we have noted these wrong remarks made by the relevant person. We deplore and firmly oppose that and have made stern representations with the US side. The Chinese government protects its citizens' freedom of religious belief in accordance with law and people of all ethnic groups in China fully enjoy their right to freedom of religious belief in accordance with law. The Chinese side consistently opposes the US side cooking up or using the so-called religious issues to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. We urge the US side to face squarely and respect basic facts, cast aside prejudice, choose its words and actions carefully, view China's religious policies and freedom of religious belief in an objective way, stop using the so-called religious issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.

This person in question mentioned the so-called issues in Xinjiang. I want to say that the affairs of Xinjiang are China's internal affairs. Xinjiang set up the vocational and educational training centers as a preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation measure. They are not the so-called "re-education camps" claimed by the US. Facts have proven that the measures taken in Xinjiang to counter terrorism and maintain stability enjoy extensive support from all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. We urge the US side to discard its double standards on counter-terrorism and counter-separatism, stop using Xinjiang-related issues to interfere in China's domestic affairs, and contribute to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US, instead of the contrary.