China firmly opposes double standards on human rights issues and calls for advancing the process of promoting and protecting human rights by following principles including dialogue, cooperation and participation, a Chinese envoy to the United Nations (UN) said on Tuesday.

Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, made the remarks while expounding on China's principles and stance on human rights issues at the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, Chen said China attaches great importance to advancing and preserving all human rights.

The promotion and preservation of human rights should follow the principles of impartiality, objectivity, transparency, non-selectivity, non-politicization and non-confrontation, he said, 

He added that obligations stipulated in the UN Charter, such as respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, should also be abided by.

He said China will continue to actively participate in global human rights governance and preserve, promote and defend the universality and effectiveness of the UN Charter.

The Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter was initiated by Venezuela and established in July 2021. Its current members include China, Russia, Algeria, Belarus, Iran, Syria and other countries.

(Cover: A panoramic view of the opening of the 53rd UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, June 19, 2023. /CFP)