Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on September 15, 2021
2021-09-15 21:02

CCTV: We have noticed that the Representative of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN made a statement at the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, calling on all countries to achieve lasting peace and promote and protect human rights. Can you share more information?

Zhao Lijian: At the 48th session of the Human Rights Council on September 14, China made a joint statement on behalf of more than 40 countries, which represents the voice for justice and reason in the international community and shows China's sense of responsibility on human rights issues.

China believes that to achieve lasting peace and promote and protect human rights, the following should be done. First, we should firmly uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law and refrain from imposing one's will on others. Second, differences should be bridged through dialogue and consultations, and conflicts should be resolved through political negotiations. The use or threat of force should be rejected, still less should military intervention under the pretext of democracy and human rights be allowed. Third, we should persist in promoting sustainable development so as to achieve peace through development. Fourth, we should respect the diversity of civilizations, and make it a bond for maintaining world peace. Fifth, we should address both traditional and non-traditional security threats in a coordinated manner, and address the root causes of crisis.

China has made remarkable achievement in its human rights development. Just a few days ago, China released the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2021-2025). This Action Plan consists of eight parts and includes nearly 200 objectives and tasks.

China's formulation of the National Action Plan has set a new example with regard to world human rights. More than 60 countries in the world have formulated national human rights action plans. Among them, China, Indonesia and Mexico have drafted the plans for four consecutive periods. Countries including the US, Canada, France, Germany and Japan have not yet formed any national human rights action plan. These countries trumpeting human rights should make their own action plans as soon as possible and do something concrete to safeguard the human rights of their own citizens.

At present, large-scale human rights violations caused by wars, conflicts and regional turmoil happen from time to time, meaning that global human rights development still remains an arduous task. Looking ahead, China will continue to earnestly fulfill international human rights obligations, deeply participate in international human rights governance, and work toward the building of a fair, reasonable and effective international human rights system. We call on all countries to join hands in ensuring that all people can enjoy human rights in a world with lasting peace and universal security.

Xinhua News Agency: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Singapore, the third stop of his tour to neighboring countries in Asia. Could you offer more details?

Zhao Lijian: From September 13 to 14, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Singapore. He met with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister and Singaporean Co-chair of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) Heng Swee Keat. He also held talks with Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and they jointly met the press.

State Councilor Wang noted that both countries understand and trust each other, and the China-Singapore relations are forward-looking, strategic and exemplary. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, bilateral relations have maintained a momentum of development and become an important stabilizing factor in the region. China stands ready to enhance strategic communication with Singapore and focus on cooperation in five fields, including anti-epidemic efforts, joint construction of the Belt and Road, sustainable development, regional cooperation in East Asia and multilateral cooperation, and inject new impetus into bilateral relations. China will continue to deepen cooperation with ASEAN countries, work for the early entry into force of the RCEP, accelerate the negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), jointly hold events in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the dialogue relations between China and the ASEAN, open up new prospects for China-ASEAN relations and contribute to regional and world peace, stability and development.

The Singaporean side noted that Singapore and China enjoy open, candid and old friend-like relations and have achieved fruitful results in exchanges and cooperation across the board since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Singapore values the achievements in bilateral relations and is willing to usher in a new era for Singapore-China relations. The Singaporean side lauded China's active efforts to conduct vaccine cooperation and share experience in COVID-19 response with other countries, and is willing to further step up cooperation with China in the fields of pandemic prevention and control, and investment and trade, adhere to multilateralism and contribute positively to tackling global challenges. Singapore supports ASEAN countries and China in jointly hosting the commemoration activities for the 30th anniversary, support the acceleration of consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), the early entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the consolidation of an open regional cooperation architecture.

Shenzhen TV: The UK Parliament has decided that "the APPG event with the participation of the Chinese Ambassador to the UK should not take place at the parliamentary estate". The reason given was that the Chinese side had earlier announced sanctions on some UK parliamentarians. What is your comment?

Zhao Lijian: Instigated by some anti-China parliamentarians, the UK Parliament did not agree to hold the event with the participation of the Chinese Ambassador to the UK at the parliamentary estate. China strongly condemns this and will have to make necessary responses.