China & Human Rights: FM Pushes for Global Development & Progress

China is actively involved in United Nations human rights initiatives and maintains extensive cooperation with other nations in this field, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. The country is committed to contributing positively to global human rights development.

China’s Participation in Global Human Rights Efforts

December 10th marks Human Rights Day. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to questions regarding China’s progress in promoting and protecting human rights, as well as its efforts to strengthen international human rights cooperation.

This year commemorates the 80th anniversary of the UN’s founding, the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Human Rights Day. These milestones, Guo stated, represent humanity’s aspiration for the full enjoyment of human rights for all, a vision that is gaining increasing traction.

“China always attaches great importance to respecting and protecting human rights and pursues a human rights development path that meets the trend of the times and suits its national conditions,” Guo said.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has achieved significant progress in national development, advanced whole-process people’s democracy, fully implemented the rule of law, fostered thriving cultural programs and industries, improved people’s well-being, consolidated poverty alleviation efforts, enhanced the ecological environment, and elevated the protection of various human rights, according to Guo.

As a constructive participant, China actively engages in human rights affairs within the UN and fosters broad exchange and cooperation with other countries.

China is currently hosting the Second Workshop on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Beijing. The workshop brings together representatives from over 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania, along with UN officials and experts, to discuss and reach consensus on promoting and protecting economic, social, and cultural rights.

In October 2025, the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee adopted recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining a blueprint for China’s economic and social development over the next five years and demonstrating its commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation with the rest of the world, the spokesperson added.

“To advance Chinese modernization will also give a boost to all-round development of human rights in China,” Guo stated, adding that China will actively implement the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and contribute to global human rights development.

Guo criticized certain countries for politicizing and weaponizing human rights issues, calling it a serious challenge to global human rights governance. He also noted that some nations have not acknowledged past wrongdoings, such as bacterial warfare, the forced recruitment of “comfort women,” and the massacre of civilians during wartime aggression, and continue to infringe upon the rights of indigenous people and discriminate against foreigners.

“We urge the relevant country to face up to and resolve their own severe human rights issues, take a constructive part in the international cooperation in human rights, and stop interfering in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of so-called human rights issues,” Guo said.