China’s new contribution to human rights

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a China-sponsored resolution titled “Promoting Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights” on March 23, which points out a new direction for global governance of human rights in today’s increasingly complex political and economic situations.

Calling for multilateralism and dialogue in the field of human rights, the resolution proposes the establishment of a new type of international relations based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and the building of a community of shared future for humankind.

The two proposals, as part of China’s major-country diplomacy, were approved along with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last October.

CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping said in his report that by adhering to the principle of negotiation and win-win cooperation, China will consistently advocate democratic international relations that allow all countries to have an equal say in international affairs. Besides, as a responsible power, Xi said, China will continue to offer new insights into and help improve the global governance system.

The two proposals are about the new type of international relations and will serve as the foundation for building a community of shared future for humankind. Together, they provide China’s answer for the future world order. In addition, as a major part of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, the two proposals are China’s key guideline for global governance of human rights.

Still, the international human rights cause faces huge and various challenges because of the political, economic and technological uncertainties. For instance, localized conflicts and the issue of migrants have not been effectively resolved, terrorism and racialism are still rampant worldwide, and trade protectionism is becoming a very serious problem.

Given these multifarious problems and threats, the international community needs to pay more attention to human rights governance, which is closely tied to economic growth and social progress of both the developed and developing countries. The international community also has to enhance its communication and collaboration on human rights governance.

China has provided an alternative way to safeguard human rights, which prioritizes people’s interests, and allows governments to make its own decision on how to protect human rights according to their national conditions. This will also allow the international community to replace the outdated Western concept on human rights with China’s forward-looking concept, as the West adheres to double standard by using human rights as a political tool to accuse many developing countries of rights violations.

That the UN supports China’s concept shows the country’s efforts to protect human rights have been recognized by more countries, and Chinese wisdom is playing an important role in the international community.

With the two proposals becoming a formal UN resolution, China will make greater efforts to live up to the world’s expectations not only in protecting human rights at home but also in contributing more to human rights governance globally.

That the UN supports China’s concept shows the country’s efforts to protect human rights have been recognized by more countries ...

The author is a researcher in international laws at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.