Work together to promote and protect human rights

III

China is committed to advancing human rights. While striving to improve human rights of its own people, China is also contributing to human rights development in the world.

? China has been actively exploring a path of human rights development. We believe that human rights have both universality and particularity, collective and individual human rights should be harmonized, progress in democracy should come with betterment of people's lives, and the two categories of human rights should be advanced in a coordinated way. We have blazed a distinctly Chinese path of human rights development tailored to China's national circumstances, and have scored many proud achievements. With its GDP exceeding RMB70 trillion last year, China has become the world's second largest economy. The government is able to provide adequate food and clothing for the 1.3 billion people. Over 700 million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty, which accounts for more than 70 percent of poverty reduction worldwide, making China the first to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people living in poverty. This is a major contribution to the world. Currently, the government creates jobs for 770 million people. Every child and teenager enjoys nine-year compulsory education. Care and support is provided to 230 million senior citizens, over 7 million college graduates and 85 million people with disabilities. More than 60 million urban and rural residents receive subsistence allowance from the government. The life expectancy of the Chinese people has been raised from 35 years in 1949 to over 76 years now, which has been hailed by the UN as the biggest increase of all nations in the last 30 years. Democracy and the rule of law have been advanced in China, judicial work and human rights protection have registered major progress, and Chinese people enjoy far greater democratic rights and freedoms than before. The lawful rights of ethnic minorities, women, children, senior citizens and the disabled are safeguarded and upheld. These notable achievements are there for all to see and demonstrate the strength of the Chinese system and development path.

? China plays an active part in global human rights governance. Following the principles of equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning and win-win cooperation, China is deeply involved in all aspects of international human rights cooperation and works for a just and fair international human rights system. Last year, China was elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the fourth time with as many as 180 votes. The fact that few countries have been elected as many times is a good demonstration of the world's recognition of China's progress. China has joined 26 international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and five other core human rights conventions. China takes its human rights obligations seriously and has duly received Universal Periodic Reviews and reviews on implementation of human rights conventions. We conduct human rights dialogue and exchange with nearly 40 countries and carry out constructive cooperation with UN human rights agencies. All this contributes to international human rights governance. We feel keenly that dialogue and cooperation works better than confrontation, and that exchange and mutual learning works better than finger-pointing. This view is shared by the majority of UN member states.

? China is a strong supporter of the international human rights cause. By the end of 2016, China has provided over RMB400 billion of foreign aid, and rendered medical assistance to 69 countries. Over 600,000 Chinese aid workers have been sent abroad and help has been given to more than 120 developing countries in meeting the MDGs. The China-UN Peace and Development Fund is up and running and the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund has been launched, both of which will contribute to the cause of world peace and development. This May, China will host the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing to make sure that the Belt and Road Initiative will deliver greater benefits to the world. As President Xi has pointed out, China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa. The world will see that while developing itself, China will make an even bigger contribution to global human rights.

The Communist Party of China will hold the 19th National Congress later this year, a pivotal conference that coincides with a crucial stage of China's development. We will continue to act on the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development; advance balanced progress in five key areas; implement the four-pronged comprehensive strategy; and remain confident as ever of the path, theories, system and culture of our own country. We are determined to meet the goals we have set for 2020, including doubling the 2010 GDP and per capita income in rural as well as urban areas, eliminating poverty, improving people's democracy and realizing law-based governance.

The Chinese people are pursuing the "two centenary goals" and the Chinese dream of great national rejuvenation. China's human rights aspiration is for our country to be strong and prosperous, for our people to enjoy happiness and for the world to have peace, development and win-win cooperation. Let us work together to promote and protect human rights worldwide so that human rights are truly enjoyed by all humans.

The author is Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.