GENEVA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition on the human rights situation in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held in March 4-8 at the Palais des Nations during the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The exhibition "Development and Progress of Human Rights in Xinjiang" held at the building of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) features more than 80 pictures reflecting the system of regional ethnic autonomy, democratic election at the community level, freedom of religious belief and protection of the ethnic culture there, among other things.

The show is jointly sponsored by the Permanent Mission of China to the UNOG and the China Society for Human Rights Studies.

"The purpose of the photo exhibition is to show the international community a true, beautiful and vibrant Xinjiang where people from all ethnic groups are living in harmony," said Yu Jianhua, head of the Chinese permanent mission to UNOG.

Yu said he believes that the pictures will help people to get a better understanding about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, in particular not to be misled by those people who, with ulterior motives, distort the facts and make irresponsible remarks on Xinjiang.

"China attaches great importance to the protection of human rights, including the rights of ethnic groups. Human rights issues should not be distorted or be subject to double standards, nor should they be used as a tool to damage the sovereignty and territorial integrity and core interests of other countries," he stressed.

Wang Linxia, deputy secretary-general of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, said the exhibition provides a window for people to know the true story of human rights in China.

Over the past 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wang said, great progress has been made in promoting the human rights in China, contributing to the global cause of human rights development.

Permanent Representative of Cuba to the UNOG, Pedro Luis Pedroso Cuesta, told Xinhua that there were new developments impressing him in every trip he made to China, and in particular when he visited Xinjiang.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to UNOG, Nikita Zhukov, said he thinks the vocational training and other measures taken by the local government in Xinjiang helped people improve working skills in their self-development.

Poverty hardly affords civil and political rights for people, and without development, there will be no way for achievements in other fields, he added.