Jordan supports the Chinese government's position and measures in handling the July 5 violence in Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a senior government official said Thursday.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Nabil Sharif, minister of state for media affairs and communications, said he had been all along following the development of the incident and how it was handled.

He said Islam and Muslims stand for peace and are opposed to all violent and terrorist activities. Therefore, Jordan condemns the violent crimes that occurred during the incident.

The minister expressed his country's support for all the necessary measures taken by the Chinese government to calm down the situation, safeguard Xinjiang's stability, and protect the safety of people's life and property.

Perpetrators in the incident should be brought to justice, Sharif said.

What happened on July 15 in Urumqi has nothing to do with ethnic or religious issues. Neither should it be linked with the Uygur ethnic group, with Islam or with Muslims, he said.

The violent terrorist acts were aimed at undermining China's stability and prosperity, hindering its development, sowing conflicts in the country, and seceding Xinjiang from China, he added. .

Sharif noted that Jordan consistently backs the one-China policy and opposes any forces which attempt to split China.

China's development and prosperity are of great significance for the stability and balanced development of the world, he said.

He expressed the hope that the Chinese government would calm down the situation soon, maintain the country's rapid economic growth, and safeguard social stability and unity.

The incident in Urumqi will not affect the traditional friendship between China and Jordan and other Arab and Islamic nations, Sharif said.

Through concerted efforts from both sides, the friendly relations will be further consolidated and promoted, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2009)