West told to end meddling on rights pretext

GENEVA－A senior Chinese diplomat on Monday urged some Western countries to immediately stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, and work truly for the protection of those rights.

"The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and some EU countries, abusing the platform of the Human Rights Council, spread misinformation and made groundless accusations against China," said Ambassador Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

China firmly opposes and categorically rejects their accusations, Chen said at the ongoing 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, while exercising the right of reply to those allegations.

"Putting people at the center, China has made remarkable achievements in the field of human rights."

As for the issue of China's Xinjiang, Chen said the autonomous region enjoys prosperity and stability, and people there are leading a safe and happy life.

In the past 60-plus years, Chen said Xinjiang's economy has grown by more than 200 times, and the average life expectancy and the Uygur population have both doubled.

"It can't be more absurd to pin the 'genocide' label on China, and this attempt will not go anywhere," the ambassador said.

Chen also rejected accusations on Hong Kong-related issues, saying these are entirely China's internal affairs and it would brook no external interference on the matter.

Since the national security law came into force, Hong Kong has embarked on a transition from chaos to order and peace, and the legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents are better exercised in a safer environment, he said.

The diplomat added that the decision of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress, on improving the electoral system of Hong Kong ensures the implementation of the principles of "patriots governing Hong Kong", "one country, two systems", and guarantees the long-term stability of the territory.

Invitations extended

"China welcomes the visit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to China, including Xinjiang. The two sides are in communication on this matter," Chen told the council, adding this will be a friendly visit rather than a so-called investigation.

"We firmly oppose anyone using this matter for political manipulation and exerting pressure on China," he said.

Chen said China has extended invitations to EU diplomats to visit Xinjiang on a number of occasions, but they have so far shied away on various excuses, which makes one suspect that they only attempt to manipulate Xinjiang-related issues for political purposes.

"While indulging in making groundless accusations against China and other developing countries, these countries choose to turn a blind eye to the serious human rights problems of their own and their allies," Chen declared.

Some Western countries have many worry-worthy human rights problems, the ambassador said.

"China urges these countries to immediately halt infringing upon the human rights of its own people and people of other countries, and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights," he said.

Xinhua