Proposal set to advance cause of human rights

Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivers a speech during the opening of an international symposium commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Foreign minister emphasizes prioritizing development, upholding justice, fairness

Beijing has put forward a four-point proposal for advancing global human rights, including "galvanizing common security and shaping a stabler international environment", in order to end conflicts and facilitate the return of the homeless to their homeland.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi unveiled the proposal package in Beijing on Tuesday in a speech during the opening of an international symposium commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The world should never be allowed to become a jungle where the strong prey on the weak, and countries should never be allowed to plunge once again into the abyss of Cold War confrontation," he said.

The four-point proposal includes China's calls for prioritizing development, boosting mutual learning and upholding justice and fairness.

For the vast number of developing countries, "the right to development is the foremost human right", and the China-proposed Global Development Initiative is intended to push the development topic back to the center of the international agenda, Wang said.

He called for safeguarding an open world economy and rejecting scientific and technological barriers as well as economic decoupling.

Wang also emphasized the need to respect countries and encourage them to choose their own path of human rights development, and opposed interference in the internal affairs of other countries or blocking their development under the pretext of human rights.

The senior diplomat said "the inadequate representation of developing countries in the United Nations human rights mechanisms should be resolved in a timely manner", in order to make the UN a platform for dialogue and cooperation instead of a wrestling ground for confrontation and coercion.

The UN General Assembly elected members of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-26 term on October 10. As a sign of widespread support and recognition in the world, China was reelected as a member, marking its sixth term in the council and making it one of the most frequently elected countries.

Observers said that China has developed an evolving, inspirational solution for advancing human rights that reflects the common pursuits and reality of many developing countries.

Liu Huawen, executive director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Center for Human Rights Studies, said that human rights in China are not just an idea, but also involve actions. "Human rights in China are tangible and visible, and are reflected in the betterment of people's daily life," Liu said.

"China is walking steadfastly on its own path of development with self-confidence and continuous efforts, and it is actively participating in international human rights governance. It is a very determined driving force for advancing human rights in this era," he added.

In his speech, Wang also took stock of a series of fresh, historic achievements in China's human rights endeavors. In terms of international human rights governance, China has carried out exchanges and cooperation with UN human rights organs and more than 30 countries and regions, he noted.