Beijing and Berlin eye human rights cooperation

Experts called on China and Germany to enhance cooperation and join efforts to advance the development of international human rights during a forum on Tuesday.

Herta Daubler-Gmelin, former German justice minister, said at the 2023 China-Germany Forum on Human Rights Development that finding common ground while acknowledging differences between nations is the correct path toward advancing the cause of human rights.

Both China and Germany have assumed various obligations in the international community and share many commonalities in protecting human rights, she said.

"For instance, we both support the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and actively implement it. Also, in climate protection, we both support the Paris Agreement," she said.

Furthermore, she expressed her keen interest in understanding the initiatives proposed by China, such as the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative.

"In these areas, China and Germany also share common characteristics, in which we both attach great importance to mutual learning and boosting exchanges," she said.

Zuo Feng, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, expressed concern over the frequent regional conflicts in the world today and the challenges they pose to the development of global human rights.

"The world has yet to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. The problem of imbalanced development between developed and developing countries is prominent and severely hinders the shared benefits of development for people worldwide," Zuo said.

According to data from the United Nations, more than 820 million people are affected by hunger globally, with more than 350 million people around the world currently needing humanitarian assistance.

'Vital role'

"Development is the key to realizing human rights, and international cooperation plays a vital role in promoting the development of human rights worldwide," he said.

Li Yi, deputy director-general of the Department of International Cooperation at the China International Development Cooperation Agency, highlighted China's contributions to advancing international cooperation in human rights over the past decade.

"As a developing country, China has eradicated absolute poverty and achieved a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, standing out as the world's second-largest economy. China's achievements guarantee the right to survival and development for its 1.4 billion population," she said.

China and Germany have also made joint efforts in human rights cooperation, she added, citing the collaboration between China and Germany, announced earlier this year, in promoting Nigeria's agricultural productivity.

Christine Toetzke, director-general of Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Eastern/South Eastern Europe for Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, said China is a partner of Germany and "only by working together can we overcome the shared challenges we face".

The forum was jointly organized by the China Foundation for Human Rights and Germany's Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation in Beijing.