President Jiang Zemin on Human Rights Issue

President Jiang Zemin said Wednesday that China is ready to work with other people of the Asia-Pacific and the world at large for the progress in the regional and international cause of human rights.

President Jiang made the remarks in a message of congratulations to the participants of the Eighth Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region, which opened in Beijing on Wednesday.

He said that the 20th century is one of great changes for China. The Chinese people won national independence and liberation through unyielding and dauntless struggles. The Chinese government has adopted the policy of reform and opening-up to develop the economy, shake off poverty and build democracy and a sound legal system, Jiang said, adding that China has also done a lot of work in the field of human rights and scored spectacular results.

"In the 21st century, we will improve our democracy, run the country according to law, ensure our people more extensive rights and freedoms and strive to build China into a strong and prosperous modernized country with a higher degree of democracy and civilization," the Chinese president said.

He said, "We have just rung in the new millennium. It is one of the common aspirations of mankind to fully enjoy human rights. Looking back into the past one hundred years, we have seen people of various countries wage dauntless struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms and score remarkable achievements in this regard."

The Fascist demon that once did havoc in Asia and Europe has been eliminated, and the colonialist system that had held out for centuries has fallen apart, and the vast number of Asian, African and Latin American countries have won national liberation and independence, adding that the fight against apartheid has ended with a complete victory, and a number of international instruments on human rights have been formulated, he said.

"The economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development have been established and recognized. The people of Asia-Pacific countries have made unremitting efforts for all this and made tremendous and positive contribution to the progress and development of the international cause of human rights," Jiang said.

He said that it is an important task facing the international community to further strengthen international cooperation in the field of human rights and promote the development of the international cause of human rights in the new century.

"We have both opportunities and challenges. Although we have differences on the issue of human rights due to different national conditions, we share common goals in promoting and protecting human rights," Jiang said.

"All countries should conduct dialogues and exchanges in the spirit of equality and mutual respect to deepen mutual understanding, narrow differences, expand common ground and seek common progress," he emphasized.

Most of the Asia-Pacific countries are developing countries that experienced similar sufferings in the past and share the common desire for development now, Jiang said, adding that therefore, it is of great significance to conduct regional exchanges on human rights.

He expressed the belief that with the joint efforts of all participants here, this workshop will produce major and profound influence on the international cause of human rights in the new century.

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