China News Service, Geneva, November 19th. The Permanent Mission of China in Geneva and the Permanent Mission of Russia in Geneva jointly held an online seminar on "Democracy and Human Rights: Common Pursuit, Colorful Practice" on the 18th. Participants focused on issues such as democracy and human rights. Have a lively discussion.
Li Song, Chargé d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of China in Geneva, pointed out in his speech that democracy and human rights are not custom products, decorations, luxury goods, nor are they patented products of a few countries, but rights shared by all peoples.
No matter what style it adopts, the people are the masters of the country, and it is true democracy. Only when the people are the center can truly and comprehensive human rights be realized.
If a country is democratic or not, it must be judged by the people of the country.
If they are excluded because of the different forms of achieving democracy, it is undemocratic in itself.
Interfering in the internal affairs of other countries under the banner of democracy and human rights and artificially creating confrontation will only cause turmoil and even disaster.
Li Song said that the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deliberated and passed the "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Party’s Major Achievements and Historical Experience in a Century of Struggle". Build a modern socialist country, let the people lead a better life, and make new contributions to world peace and development.
China is willing to share its own practice experience with other countries, but it will never impose the Chinese model on others.
China actively learns from all the useful achievements of human civilization, welcomes all useful suggestions and well-intentioned criticism, but will never accept the preaching of the "teacher".
Gatilov, the permanent representative of Russia in Geneva, said that in the pursuit of democracy and human rights, different cultural characteristics, moral standards and traditional social values should be considered.
Some countries claiming to be "democratic bastions" cling to the Cold War mentality and attempt to draw the line with their so-called "democratic standards" to further deepen differences between countries. This is completely undesirable.
The so-called "rule-based order" has caused damage to the international system based on the United Nations Charter and international law.
Chinese political scholar Li Shimo pointed out at the meeting that the goal of democracy should be to meet the needs of the general public. From the results-oriented measurement of the effectiveness of democracy, it can be seen that the Chinese people are satisfied with the way the country is governed and are full of hope for the future. The United States is more democratic.
Narokonyskaya, chairman of the Russian Historical Research Foundation, said that Western countries' attempts to engage in ideological dictatorship are contrary to the common values and interests of human society.
Professor Pires of São Paulo State University in Brazil pointed out that Western countries exploit other countries, engage in military intervention, and support coups under the pretext of "universal values" and "defend human rights."
Akram, chairman of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development of the United Nations Human Rights Council, pointed out that no one can monopolize the right to define democracy. The right to development has not been effectively implemented worldwide. The fundamental reason lies in the obstacles set up by developed countries.
British scholar Martin Jacques said that China's great success in responding to the new crown pneumonia epidemic is attributed to the outstanding governance capabilities of the Chinese government and the strong cohesion of the Chinese society.
China never imposes its own model on others, but the Chinese model has been learned by more and more developing countries.
China proposes the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, which is crucial to opening up new ideas for understanding the world and thinking about democratic issues.
Robert Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation of the United States, said that the difference between the Chinese Communist Party and the ruling parties in the West is that the Chinese Communist Party represents all the people.
China practices people's democracy in the whole process, strengthens the protection of human rights and the rule of law, and ensures that the people enjoy extensive rights and freedoms in accordance with the law.
China's effective containment of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and elimination of absolute poverty have benefited from the leadership and organizational capabilities of the Communist Party of China.
The permanent representatives and senior diplomats of nearly 20 countries in Geneva said at the meeting that there is no monopoly democracy in the world. Western countries are trying to "monopolize" values. This is "ideal dictatorship". They should respect the sovereignty of other countries and should not make excuses. Democracy and human rights interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, impose unilateral sanctions, and even carry out military intervention and aggression.
This kind of behavior violates international law and brings serious disasters to the people of other countries. The international community should jointly oppose it.
Li Song told reporters after the meeting that this meeting was the first international seminar held in Geneva specifically on issues of democracy, human rights, and development. All participants at the meeting spoke freely and gained a more comprehensive understanding of democracy, human rights, and development in the collision of ideas. Think and form a broad consensus.
China is willing to continue to work with all parties to uphold true multilateralism, promote the democratization of international relations, and make new contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and a better world.
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