On the second day of the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance, delegates from countries around the world voiced recognition for China's approach to human rights development and spoke highly of China's vision for global human rights governance.

The two-day forum, themed "Joint Development, Shared Human Rights: The 40th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development and a New Vision for Global Human Rights Governance," attracted over 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.

Development key to human rights progress

In the keynote speeches on Friday, many speakers concurred with China's proposal to advance human rights through development, a central pillar of China's approach to the cause, according to the Human Rights Action Plan of China (2021-2025) published by the State Council Information Office in 2021.

Mohamed Osman Omar, state minister of the Somali Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development, stressed that development is not merely an economic pursuit but the foundation of human dignity.

Citing the environmental challenges, lack of natural resources and dependence on external funding, which stall the development of the country, Jorge Alberto da Silva Borges, former Cabo Verdean foreign minister, also voiced the same view.

"We learn that without development, without water, without housing and food security, other rights remain out of reach. So development for us is not a luxury. It is a precondition to dignity," Borges told CGTN. 

Respect for country-specific realities

According to the Global Development Initiative put forward by China, people of all countries should enjoy human rights equitably via modernization paths tailored to their national realities. This means while countries share the same goal of protecting the human rights of their people, each may pursue different ways shaped by its own contexts.

Maya Sahli-Fadel, president of the National Human Rights Council of Algeria, agreed with China's proposal and presented a multi-faceted perspective of human rights during her speech. She said the efforts of safeguarding human rights must align with each country's cultural and historical context and legal systems while also respecting national realities, development levels and South–South cooperation.

Kan Pharidh, secretary of state of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, reaffirmed the inclusive approach. 

"We advocate building a global governance framework based on cooperation and dialogue rather than confrontation and conflict, mutual respect rather than unilateral coercion, and shared progress rather than division and antagonism," Pharidh said.

Advancing human rights needs international cooperation

As countries around the world seek to advance human rights, many participants attending the forum called for enhanced cooperation within the international community.

Realizing the right to development depends on international cooperation, and no country can address global challenges independently, Dilnoza Muratova, deputy director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, said during her speech.

Agnes Adlino Orifa Oswaha, undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Sudan, echoed the same proposal, as she urged the Global South to work together with solidarity and coordinated efforts to pursue prosperity.

She also applauded China's efforts to advocate for equal participation, peaceful, win-win cooperation, fairness and justice, and common development.

Speakers also spoke highly of China's Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which opens up avenues of dialogue and cooperation while providing guidelines for individual countries to explore their own paths of development.

Issara Sereewatthanawut, secretary-general of King Prajadhipok's Institute, said China's GGI provides a framework that enables all countries to participate in global governance, as it facilitates the establishment of a more just and inclusive global order that serves the people.