China said Tuesday it rejects human rights as a reason to interfere in its internal affairs after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised the issue of work camps for Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang during his recent trip to Beijing.

Geng Shuang, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a media briefing that the anti-extremism measures China was taking in Xinjiang were "totally legitimate" and had "wide support from the people in Xinjiang".

Geng also commented on an international arms-trade treaty from which US President Donald Trump has said he'll withdraw.

He said China was studying the possibility of signing up to the treaty, saying that "China supports the international community to take necessary measures to regulate international arms trade activities and combat illegal arms transfer and trafficking."

Asked about the details of six foreigners being sentenced by a court in southern China for drug offences, including a Canadian given the death penalty, Geng didn't respond directly.

Beijing – 30 April 2019

1. Wide of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang walking towards podium

2. Wide of journalists

3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Geng Shuang, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry:

"China is willing to discuss human rights issues with others on the basis of equality and mutual respect. In the meantime, we strongly oppose any interference in China's internal affairs that uses human rights as an excuse. Secondly, the situation in Xinjiang is part of China's internal affairs. Terrorism and extremism are trampling on fundamental human rights. China's preventative anti-terrorism measures and the eradication of extremism in Xinjiang are totally legitimate. The measures respect and protect human rights and have won wide support from the people in Xinjiang."

4. Wide of journalists

5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Geng Shuang, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry:

"We hope that the relevant countries could do more to help consolidate the international arms control mechanism and maintain international and regional peace and stability. China attaches great importance to the problems caused by the illicit transfer of conventional weapons, especially small and light weapons. China supports the international community to take necessary measures to regulate international arms trade activities and combat illegal arms transfer and trafficking."

6. Wide of journalists

7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Geng Shuang, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry:

"China conducts strict controls over arms trade and participated in the negotiation of the arms trade treaty with a constructive role. China supports the purpose of the treaty and joined the relevant meetings as an observer. China has been studying the issues of accession to the treaty."

8. Wide of journalists

9. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Geng Shuang, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry:

"The Jiangmen Intermediate People's Court of Guangdong Province has issued a very detailed announcement. According to my understanding, in the announcement, there are very clear explanations about who was sentenced to death, who was sentenced to death with a suspended execution, and who was sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment. I suggest you read it carefully again."

10. Wide of journalist

11. End of press conference