Developing countries expressed their support for China during the general debate on human rights issues hosted by the Third Committee of the 78th UN General Assembly on October 17.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, participated in the general debate and presented the national statement. During his address, he discussed the profound human rights aspects of the Global Security Initiative, Global Development Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.

He also outlined the unique human rights development approach with Chinese characteristics and highlighted the notable accomplishments in this regard. Additionally, he firmly opposed the unfounded allegations regarding China's human rights situation propagated by some Western countries.

Pakistan and Venezuela, speaking collectively for a total of 72 countries and 19 members of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, delivered joint statements. 

A number of countries in their national statements praised China's accomplishments in the realm of human rights. These statements coalesced into a consensus endorsing China's stance and rejecting any attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

Zhang said that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He underscored the importance of fostering a global community with a shared future for all humankind. In this spirit, he urged the international community to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, ensuring common security and fostering mutual development, which would in turn advance the international cause of human rights.

"We must safeguard world peace and adhere to the peaceful settlement of disputes, so as to build a fundamental premise for the promotion and protection of human rights. We must vigorously promote development and make every effort to bring the 2030 Agenda back on track, so as to build solid guarantees for the promotion and protection of human rights," said Zhang.

"We must strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, and leave no room for the erroneous arguments such as 'democracy versus authoritarianism.' We must uphold fairness and justice to ensure the right direction in the promotion and protection of human rights," he added.

Zhang highlighted that, in pursuing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the country has embraced a human rights development approach that aligns with the contemporary world and its own national conditions.

"This is a path of development that puts people front and center, with 1.4 billion Chinese people living in peace, harmony, unity, and happiness," he said.

This path enables the governance of the nation to be in the hands of the people, who are the true masters of the country, Zhang pointed out, adding that it's a path that promotes the shared prosperity of all ethnic groups, fostering a strong and equal union, akin to the seeds of a pomegranate.

Furthermore, Zhang underscored that this development path not only fulfills China's domestic responsibilities but also significantly contributes to the global human rights agenda.

Zhang said that China firmly opposed and condemned the consistent dissemination of false information by the European Union and a few Western countries regarding issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong and their persistence in provoking confrontations and interfering in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights, despite the lack of substantiated evidence.

"I would like to point out that the lies about China's human rights situation are totally unfounded. The so-called assessment report on China's Xinjiang is full of false information and is totally illegal and invalid," Zhang said.

"I would like to point out that politicizing human rights issues will lead to nowhere. Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have turned a blind eye to and covered up their own serious human rights violations, such as racial discrimination, while pointing fingers at and making groundless accusations against developing countries," the ambassador added.

"This double standard will find no support. I would like to point out that dialogue and cooperation represent the right way forward," he said, adding that a few countries arbitrarily undermine dialogue and cooperation, ultimately isolating themselves and diminishing their credibility on the global stage.

Zhang also made a joint statement on behalf of 28 countries, criticizing the U.S. and some other Western forces for their misuse of unilateral coercive measures.

The joint statement stresses that unilateral coercive measures go against the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, international law, multilateralism and the basic norms of international relations. The imposition of these unlawful measures continues to inflict severe, at times life-threatening, consequences on targeted nations and their populations while also adversely impacting the enjoyment of human rights, including the right to health and the right to life, according to the statement.

"Therefore, the imposing States are called on to immediately and completely cease such practices," Zhang said.

Pakistan, representing 72 countries, issued a joint statement to support China's position on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Xizang.

The statement firmly underscored that these issues are internal matters of China and opposed the politicization of human rights, the application of double standards and any interference in the internal affairs of other nations under the guise of human rights.

It called upon all parties to adhere to the principles and objectives outlined in the UN Charter and to respect the rights of each nation's people to independently select their own development path based on their own national circumstances.

The statement also highlighted the importance of international unity and collaboration by emphasizing the significance of multilateralism. It urges all nations to work together to address global challenges and to advance and safeguard human rights worldwide.

Venezuela, on behalf of 19 members of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, issued a joint statement to support China's position and resolutely condemned and criticized the actions of the U.S. and several Western nations, including implementing double standards in the field of human rights, tolerance of racial discrimination, the misuse of unilateral coercive measures and unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of other nations.

The statement called on the global community to adhere to the fundamental principles and objectives set forth in the UN Charter, respecting the sovereignty of all nations while actively advocating for dialogue and collaboration in the realm of human rights.

A number of countries, in their own national statements, extended their support to China. They commended China's notable accomplishments in the field of human rights while opposing any attempts to politicize human rights issues or promote confrontation and division.

These countries urged all countries to steadfastly uphold multilateralism and the spirit of solidarity, emphasizing that human rights are best advanced and safeguarded through dialogue and cooperation. These remarks once again contribute to the growing chorus of support for China.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said a total of over 100 countries spoke up for justice and voiced support for China's position at the UN, which fully reflects that the international community, especially the developing countries, are against the politicization of human rights issues. 

"The attempt of few Western countries to interfere in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of human rights finds little support and will not succeed," said a spokesperson for the ministry.

Noting that China was recently re-elected as a member of the Human Rights Council for the term 2024-2026, marking the sixth time of its election to the council, the spokesperson said China will continue to advocate the common values of humanity, take an active part in global human rights governance, and facilitate constructive dialogue and cooperation on human rights.

China will continue to advance the vision of protecting human rights through upholding security and promoting human rights through development and cooperation, making greater contribution to the global human rights cause and building a global community of shared future, the spokesperson added.

(With input from Xinhua)