A senior Chinese diplomat on Monday urged relevant countries to take concrete measures for eliminating all forms of racism and racial discrimination to fully protect human rights.

"Minorities, including those of African descent, still suffer from pervasive discrimination in some parts of the world," said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), at a UN event marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Dai noted that the slave trade and slavery, especially the transatlantic slave trade, are among the worst human rights violations in human history. He said although the transatlantic slave trade is a thing of the past and slavery has been legally abolished, its legacy is far from over.

Dai said various kinds of phobias, including "Islamophobia" and hatred for Asians, are the modern forms of slavery and colonialism. He termed them the inevitable consequences of the "superiority of certain civilizations" and "clash of civilizations."

To eliminate the extensive and profound impact of slavery, the international community must act together. In particular, countries that historically participated in and benefited from the transatlantic slave trade and the brutal colonization of Asia, Africa and Latin America should show the political will, face up to their dark past and assume their due historical responsibilities, Dai said.

China calls on relevant countries to take concrete actions to fully and effectively implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), eliminating all forms of racism and racial discrimination, he said.

Adopted at the World Conference against Racism in 2001, the DDPA is the UN's blueprint to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance globally.

China is willing to work with other countries to implement China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, eliminate racism and racial discrimination, promote and protect human rights, and build a community with a shared future for mankind, Dai said.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2007 to designate March 25 as an annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

(Cover: A poster is hung reading "End Racism" on the World Bank building in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 14, 2023. /CFP)