Official says China opposes countries using pretexts to interfere in its affairs

China's path of human rights development, explored by its people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, is in essence a concrete manifestation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the field of human rights, a senior official said on Friday.

The fundamental goal of the path is to protect people's rights and interests and to promote the all-round development of the people, said Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

He called for full recognition of the significance and fundamental requirements of following the path of human rights development with Chinese characteristics at a meeting on human rights.

More than 70 representatives attended the symposium in Beijing, commemorating the 30th anniversary of China's first white paper on human rights. In 1991, the Chinese government published the White Paper on China's Human Rights Situation.

Li Xiaomei, special representative for human rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said adhering to the path of human rights development suited to China's national conditions is the greatest inspiration China offers to the development of human rights around the world.

Completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and resolving the issue of absolute poverty is China's great contribution to the global cause of human rights, Li said.

Li said that China firmly upholds its national interests and opposes any country's interference in its internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

Since 2019, China has repeatedly defeated Western anti-China activities related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong at the UN Human Rights Council by overwhelming majorities, safeguarding its national interests and national dignity, she said.

Li Ning, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said respecting and protecting human rights is the basic principle of the socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics.

To safeguard people's health and safety since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has for the first time formulated a work plan to strengthen the legal protection of public health, he said.

Chen Hongbo, director of the policy, laws and regulations department under the National Administration for Rural Vitalization, said the achievements China has made in poverty reduction are an illustration of the Chinese view on human rights, which regards the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights.

China's victory in poverty alleviation has given a strong boost to the global human rights cause, he said.