China would welcome European Union observers to inspect human rights conditions in Xinjiang on the condition that their visit would not presume guilt on the part of Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing that Beijing welcomed independent observers to visit Xinjiang to learn about the current situation, instead of “believing hearsay and fabricated lies.”

Wang said China was willing to make arrangements for the visit but the inspection could not carry a presumption of guilt.

EU leaders had earlier expressed concerns over China’s actions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet during an intense virtual summit early this week. They asked for a team of independent observers to be sent to Xinjiang where more than one million Uighurs have reportedly been detained in mass concentration camps.

Wang repeated earlier comments made by Chinese President Xi Jinping that China did not accept “lecturing” or “double standards” on human rights matters.

He said Beijing was opposed to any foreign interference in matters relating to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, which he said were China’s internal affairs. China had been working to safeguard the country’s integrity and protect the rights of ethnic groups, Wang said.

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