Beijing, 26 February 2024 (TDI): On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi participated in the high-level segment of the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council via video, emphasizing that all parties should prioritize people’s right to survival and development.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the world is facing more instability, crises and conflicts, and the gap in global human rights governance is growing.
Wang Yi urges International Unity
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang pointed out that the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has claimed the lives of nearly 30,000 civilians, and forced almost two million people to flee their homes.
He said it is the responsibility of the whole international community to protect the human rights of all ethnic groups and all people in a fair, equal and effective way.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang called on all parties to put people’s well-being first, which is the foundation and goal of the human rights cause. People’s right to survival and development should be given top priority and pursued with more urgency.
“We must uphold fairness and justice, resist the attempts to use human rights as an excuse to interfere with other countries’ internal affairs or hinder others’ development, oppose acts of hegemonic and power politics, and reject the practice of double standards,” Wang said.
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China advocates for dialogue on Human Rights Development
Chinese Foreign Minister called on all sides to respect all countries’ right to choose their own paths to human rights development.
Countries should not impose their own values or development models on others, or form small blocs and confront those with different views.
“We must pursue cooperation that benefits all. Consensus should be reached through dialogue, and mutual learning promoted through exchanges,” said Wang.
Human rights bodies in the UN should conduct their work in a fair and objective manner, follow a non-selective and non-politicized approach, and give equal attention to all types of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, and civil and political rights.
Multilateral human rights bodies should serve as platforms for constructive engagement and cooperation for all sides, rather than a battleground for group politics or bloc confrontation, he said.
China’s Role in Global Human Rights Governance
Wang said that as a responsible major country, China plays an active role in global human rights governance, and has made efforts to the adoption of a series of important international conventions and declarations on human rights.
China is now working to bring the benefits of modernization to its people in a more substantial and fair way, and improving the level of human rights protection, Wang said.
Moreover, it will actively uphold the common values of humanity, and work with all sides to make new contributions to the sound development of the global human rights cause, he added.
