China on Friday opposed the unilateral sanctions imposed by certain countries on Belarus, and interference in Belarusian internal affairs at the excuse of human rights.

A Chinese representative made the remarks during the 51st regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

China respects the development paths chosen by the Belarusian people in accordance with its national conditions, and admires the progress Belarus has made in the human rights field, the representative said, and opposes the use of unilateral sanctions, even as a threat, in the international relations.

The representative said some countries ignored the fact that Belarusian people couldn't fully enjoy human rights due to the sanctions, and turned a blind eye on the efforts the Belarusian government made to promote and protect human rights and the strong objection from Belarus, insisting on extending the mechanism authorization regrading Belarus.

These actions politicalized human rights issues and aggravated the antagonism of UNHRC, said the representative.

The UNHRC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) should abandon the "double standard" and follow the principles of objectivity and justice, the representative said, adding that it is wrong to unreasonably criticize developing countries using unverified information, and to become a political tool of some countries.

China calls on the OHCHR to respect the information offered by the Belarusian government, urges certain countries to stop the sanctions, and play a constructive role in the economic, social and human rights development in Belarus, the representative added.

The U.S., the European Union and other Western countries have imposed a series of sanctions on Belarus since February for its support of Vladimir Putin's military offensive against Ukraine.

(Cover: A view of the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland. /CFP)

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