China holds photo exhibition on human rights progress at Geneva UN headquarters

People visit a photo exhibition titled "For a Better Life of the People" at the Palaise des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sept. 11, 2017. The photo exhibition titled "For a Better Life of the People" showcasing China's progress and achievements in the human rights promotions in the recent years opened on Monday at the Palaise des Nations, the UN headquarters in Geneva. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)

GENEVA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition titled "For a Better Life of the People" showcasing China's progress and achievements in the human rights promotions in the recent years opened on Monday at the Palaise des Nations, the UN headquarters in Geneva.

The first of its kind ever held in the Palaise des Nations, the exhibition is a collection of 70 pictures and 15 short videos that speak to China's achievements.

"I believe they provide a comprehensive guide to how far China has come in social and economic development," Ma Zhaoxu, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to UN at Geneva, said during the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Ambassadors, senior diplomats and officials from various countries and international organizations, as well as several hundred of representatives attending the 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council, took part in the photo exhibition.

"For the past 40 years since the start of reform and opening-up, particularly in the last five years, China has stayed committed to sustainable development," Ma said.

He added that China is also making every effort to improve education, deliver more reliable jobs and more rewarding incomes, weave a stronger social safety net, provide more advanced medical and health care, improve housing conditions and the natural environment, and offer a more enriched cultural life.

"Pursuing people-centered development and making development of the people, by the people, and for the people underpins the set of ideals followed by the Chinese government," he said.

The Chinese diplomat stressed that China is committed to global governance and is working for a just and equitable international human rights system.

According to him, China is a signatory to 26 international human rights instruments, and is engaged in human rights dialogues with 40 countries. While as the same time China helps more than 120 developing countries implement the Millennium Development Goals.

The exhibition was jointly sponsored by the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva and China's State Council Information Office.