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The UN's Human Rights Council continues to provide a space within which China can advance its construction of a global human rights framework with Chinese characteristics. To that tend Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, attended a meeting of the 61st Session of the HRC and discussed China's global human rights principles, which were made available to a Chinese audience in the People's Daily, 王毅出席联合国人权理事会第六十一届会议高级别会议 [Wang Yi Attends High-Level Meeting of the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council].
While there is nothing new here, repetition is its own virtue and in this case also provides the virtue of an essentialization of the Chinese framework.
一要奉行主权平等，守护全球人权治理初心。必须坚持各国平等参与、平等决策、平等受益，推动建设公正合理包容的全球人权治理体系。二要遵守国际法治，筑牢全球人权治理根基。各国应共同维护不干涉别国内政这一“黄金法则”，对以人权名义操弄双重标准的言行坚决说不。三要践行多边主义，破解全球人权治理挑战。各国应推动摒弃各种形式的殖民主义、种族歧视，妥善应对人工智能、气候变化与人权等新的课题。四要倡导以人为本，充实全球人权治理内涵。要将发展权置于多边人权议程更加突出位置，让人权进步可视可感可及。五要注重行动导向，提升全球人权治理效能。中国愿同国际社会协调行动，共同描绘全球人权事业新图景。
First, we must uphold sovereign equality and safeguard the original aspiration of global human rights governance. We must adhere to the principles of equal participation, equal decision-making, and equal benefits for all countries, and promote the construction of a just, reasonable, and inclusive global human rights governance system. Second, we must abide by international rule of law and consolidate the foundation of global human rights governance. All countries should jointly uphold the "golden rule" of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and resolutely say no to words and deeds that manipulate double standards in the name of human rights. Third, we must practice multilateralism and address the challenges of global human rights governance. All countries should promote the abandonment of all forms of colonialism and racial discrimination, and properly address new challenges such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and human rights. Fourth, we must advocate a people-centered approach and enrich the content of global human rights governance. The right to development should be placed in a more prominent position on the multilateral human rights agenda, making human rights progress visible, tangible, and accessible. Fifth, we must focus on action and enhance the effectiveness of global human rights governance. China is willing to coordinate actions with the international community to jointly create a new landscape for the global human rights cause. (王毅出席联合国人权理事会第六十一届会议高级别会议)
There is a lot packed in here in a very small textual space. Nonetheless several core structuring principles can be identified. The first is sovereign equality as a basis for human rights governance. That suggests a close connection between state prerogative and human rights as a supra-national construct. That is made clear by the second principle that imports the notions of sovereign non-interference into the governance of human rights by states. The third grounds multi-lateral human rights governance on concepts of colonialism and race discrimination--both are relics, in a sense of the old 3rd World movement now modernized to apply to current challenges. But at their core they again deal with issues o sovereign inequality, and sovereign protection against interference bu other sovereigns as the essence of human rights colonialism (which is characterized as a bad thing). The fourth then centers development as the gateway human right, grounded in the sense of an inmate connection between development (modernization) and human rights progress that enhances the fundamental objectives of human rights governance in sovereign equality non-interference and ant-colonialism at a state to state level. The last focuses on human rights governance as producing something measurable by reference to the ordering principles that foreground human rights governance and that governance, in turn, as a function of modernization with national characteristics but in dialog with other states..
The People's Daily reporting follow in full below. The full text of the address (Remarks by H.E. Wang Yi at the High-Level Segment of the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council) also follows below in the official English version.
《人民日报》（2026年02月24日 第 03 版）
新华社北京2月23日电 中共中央政治局委员、外交部长王毅23日在北京以视频方式出席联合国人权理事会第六十一届会议高级别会议并发表讲话。
王毅表示，习近平主席提出全球治理倡议，以中国智慧引领全球人权治理的方向，已得到150多个国家和国际组织支持响应。中方愿同各国一道，以落实全球治理倡议为契机，完善全球人权治理，促进国际人权事业健康发展。
一要奉行主权平等，守护全球人权治理初心。必须坚持各国平等参与、平等决策、平等受益，推动建设公正合理包容的全球人权治理体系。二要遵守国际法治，筑牢全球人权治理根基。各国应共同维护不干涉别国内政这一“黄金法则”，对以人权名义操弄双重标准的言行坚决说不。三要践行多边主义，破解全球人权治理挑战。各国应推动摒弃各种形式的殖民主义、种族歧视，妥善应对人工智能、气候变化与人权等新的课题。四要倡导以人为本，充实全球人权治理内涵。要将发展权置于多边人权议程更加突出位置，让人权进步可视可感可及。五要注重行动导向，提升全球人权治理效能。中国愿同国际社会协调行动，共同描绘全球人权事业新图景。
王毅强调，2026年是中国“十五五”开局之年。中国愿同各国一道，弘扬全人类共同价值，携手构建人类命运共同体，让人权文明的发展进步造福全世界。
Wang Yi Attends High-Level Meeting of the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council
(People's Daily, February 24, 2026, Page 03)
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 23 – Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, attended and addressed the High-Level Meeting of the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council via video link in Beijing on February 23.
Wang Yi stated that President Xi Jinping's global governance initiative, guiding the direction of global human rights governance with Chinese wisdom, has received support and responses from more than 150 countries and international organizations. China is willing to work with all countries to take the implementation of the global governance initiative as an opportunity to improve global human rights governance and promote the healthy development of the international human rights cause.
First, we must uphold sovereign equality and safeguard the original aspiration of global human rights governance. We must adhere to the principles of equal participation, equal decision-making, and equal benefits for all countries, and promote the construction of a just, reasonable, and inclusive global human rights governance system. Second, we must abide by international rule of law and consolidate the foundation of global human rights governance. All countries should jointly uphold the "golden rule" of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and resolutely say no to words and deeds that manipulate double standards in the name of human rights. Third, we must practice multilateralism and address the challenges of global human rights governance. All countries should promote the abandonment of all forms of colonialism and racial discrimination, and properly address new challenges such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and human rights. Fourth, we must advocate a people-centered approach and enrich the content of global human rights governance. The right to development should be placed in a more prominent position on the multilateral human rights agenda, making human rights progress visible, tangible, and accessible. Fifth, we must focus on action and enhance the effectiveness of global human rights governance. China is willing to coordinate actions with the international community to jointly create a new landscape for the global human rights cause.
Wang Yi emphasized that 2026 is the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. China is willing to work with all countries to promote the common values of all humanity, jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, and ensure that the development and progress of human rights civilization benefits the whole world.
* * *
Implementing the Global Governance Initiative
And Reforming and Improving Global Human Rights Governance
Remarks by H.E. Wang Yi
Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee
And Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China
At the High-Level Segment of the 61st Session of
The United Nations Human Rights Council
February 23, 2026
Mr. President,
Colleagues,
Our world today is witnessing complexities in the international landscape, incessant regional conflicts, and some country challenging right with might. The postwar international order and global human rights governance are confronted with new critical questions. History shows in stormy nights we must hold high the banner of multilateralism and press ahead together.
Last September, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forth the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). More than 150 countries and international organizations stand for it. The Group of Friends of Global Governance later launched marks a solid step in implementing the GGI. The Initiative is deeply human-centered and highly relevant to human rights, offering Chinese insight on the future of global human rights governance. China stands ready to work with all countries to implement the GGI and boost global human rights governance and the sound development of the global human rights cause.
First, we must uphold sovereign equality and stay true to the purpose of global human rights governance. No country is in a position to lecture others on human rights, and no model can claim to be superior. A path to human rights development must reflect national realities and meet the people’s needs to hold real promise. All countries must be equal in participation, decision-making and benefit-sharing, and the calls and aspirations of the Global South nations must be heard. This is how to shape a just, equitable and inclusive global human rights governance system.
Second, we must abide by international rule of law and strengthen the foundation of global human rights governance. Human rights must not be an ornament for democracy, nor a cover for hegemonism. The purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and equal and uniform application of international law and rules provide fundamental guarantee for human rights development and advancement. All must uphold the “golden rule” of noninterference, and firmly reject statements and actions that employ double standards in the name of human rights.
Third, we must practice multilateralism to tackle the challenges facing global human rights governance. The promotion and protection of human rights is a common cause of mankind. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This is an opportunity for countries to carry out dialogue and cooperation, strive to put an end to all forms of colonialism and racial discrimination, and navigate emerging domains such as artificial intelligence and climate change in relation to human rights. We must be membership-led and follow the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit to advance U.N. reform in the human rights field in a steady way, and support multilateral human rights bodies in fulfilling their duties in an objective and impartial way.
Fourth, we must advocate a people-centred approach and make global human rights governance more meaningful. To live a happy life is the greatest human right, and development holds the key to achieving it. There must be effective responses to the most urgent and immediate concerns of the people. Their needs in eldercare, childcare, social assistance and medical services must be met. Everyone must be able to enjoy dignity and no one should be left behind. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development. The international community should put the right to development higher on the multilateral human rights agenda, and mobilize development resources to enhance well-being and make human rights progress visible, tangible and accessible.
Fifth, we must be action-oriented and enhance the effectiveness of global human rights governance. The promotion and protection of human rights must be done through actions, not rhetoric. Last year, China successfully hosted the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women and launched new initiatives for advancing the global women’s cause. China facilitated the UNHRC’s adoption of resolutions on the contribution of development to human rights and on economic, social and cultural rights, energizing cooperation that benefits all parties. China shared its philosophy and practices on human rights through platforms created to enhance human resources training and capacity building in developing countries. China stands ready to work in step with the international community to open up new horizons in the global human rights cause.
Mr. President,
Colleagues,
The year of 2026 marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period. China will take solid steps to promote common prosperity for all its people, keep strengthening the whole-process people’s democracy, promote the all-around advancement of the cause of human rights, and deliver more fruits of Chinese modernization to the whole population in a more equitable way. China stands ready to work with all countries to promote development and prosperity for all, safeguard international fairness and justice, champion the common values of humanity, and build a community with a shared future for humanity to advance our civilization in the field of human rights and make it beneficial for the entire world.
Thank you!
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