Diplomatic envoys from 26 countries and regions are in China on a five-day visit to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Their visit began Monday, nearly a month after the riot in the capital city of Urumqi.

The envoys come from various countries and regions, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, South Africa, Sweden, Australia and the United States.

They were invited by the government of the autonomous region to acquire a better understanding of Xinjiang's development.

"This visit gives us an opportunity to express our support and goodwill to the Xinjiang people after the July 5 riot," said Nolama Ta Ama, ambassador of Togo.

He said violence can only escalate conflicts, but not solve problems.

Nur Berkri, chairman of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, briefed the guests on Xinjiang's development over the past several decades.

He emphasized that Xinjiang's rapid growth comes from the support of the central government, which is fiscally responsible for 80 percent of the autonomous region's infrastructure construction.

He also said the July 5 riot, which left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured, does not represent the Xinjiang people and the Muslims.

Xinjiang's gross domestic product rose from 110 billion yuan (about 16 billion U.S. dollars) in 1998 to 420 billion yuan (or about 62 billion U.S. dollars) in 2008, its fastest growth in history.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi. (XHTV)