Beijing, Sep 21 (Xinhua) The Chinese government Monday published a white paper on the development and progress in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region.

The paper termed national unification, ethnic unity and social stability as important for the region's development.

Released by the state council information office, it reviewed the changes that have taken place during past 60 years in Xinjiang.

It slammed the 'East Turkistan' forces for disrupting Xinjiang's development by provoking separatism and plotting terrorism.

The document is divided into seven sections.

The minority ethnic population in Xinjiang was 46,000 in 1955 and it shot up to 363,000 in 2008, it said.

A majority of 10 prominent ethnic minority groups here believe in Islam now, it added.