China on Thursday reaffirmed its stated principle of non-interference and opposed the tendency of certain countries to meddle in the internal affairs of sovereign states under the pretext of human rights.

"Non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states is a core principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and a basic norm governing international relations," Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the UN's Geneva office, said as he delivered a joint statement on behalf of a group of developing countries at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

"The work of the Human Rights Council shall be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and cooperation," he said citing the relevant UN General Assembly resolution.

"We oppose politicization of human rights and double standards. We reject acts of interference in other countries' internal affairs, undermining their sovereignty and international cooperation under the dishonest pretext of human rights out of political motivations," Chen added.

Chen also called on states to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the sovereignty and independence of others and, in the spirit of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, jointly promote international cooperation in the field of human rights and abandon politicization of human rights and interference in other countries' internal affairs. 

(Cover: Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu speaks at a press conference at the UN offices in Geneva, Switzerland, February 26, 2020. /AFP)