Xi congratulates opening of symposium on UN development right declaration

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to an international symposium that opened Sunday in Beijing on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations' "Declaration on the Right to Development".

In the letter, Xi said that development is an eternal theme for humans, and the international society should, taking the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a new starting point, seek common development through "fair, open, comprehensive and innovative" paths.

He noted that the symposium is significant to international human rights cooperation and improving human rights development in all countries.

For China, the world's largest developing country of over 1.3 billion people, development is key to solving all problems and is the primary task for the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi said, adding that China insists that the rights to live and development are primary basic human rights.

China has always put the people first during its development story and has effectively safeguarded their right to development, he said. China has also actively participated in global governance and promoted inclusive development, creating conditions and opportunities for all countries, especially developing countries, to share the fruits of development.

While the Chinese people work toward the nation's great rejuvenation, their lives will become happier and their rights better protected, Xi said.

China will contribute more to human development and progress, he said.

More than 150 officials and scholars from 40 countries, regions and international organizations attended the symposium.