Ending poverty is an important way to promote and protect human rights, Yu Jianhua, head of the Chinese Mission to the UN office at Geneva, said on Thursday.

Yu made the remarks during the 39th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, which was titled "The Eradication of Poverty and the Promotion, Protection, and Fulfillment of All Human Rights, Including the Right to Development."

"Nearly 800 million people globally are still struggling in poverty, and in Africa, this number is 400 million," Yu said, adding that poverty, along with the diseases and social conflicts it breeds, pose grave challenges to human rights protection in developing countries.

According to Yu, more than 68 million people have come out of poverty in China over the past five years, accounting for over 70 percent of the world's total and making China one of the first to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty.

"China has seen continued progress in early-age care, education, employment, medical and old-age care, housing, and social care for the vulnerable, creating yet another miracle in the course of global human rights development," he added.

Diplomats from several other countries also stressed the importance of poverty reduction to protect and promote human rights.

Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko, permanent representative of South Africa to the UN office at Geneva, said that as former South African president Nelson Mandela had said, overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, but an act of justice, the protection of a fundamental human right and the right to dignity and a decent life.

"The beautiful thing about working with our colleagues from China is that they understand our narratives and the articulation of agreements that carry important things for developing countries," said the representative.

"Let's not forget, freedom from poverty is a Human Right too," said Farukh Amil, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN office in Geneva.

"Balanced development of all human rights including the right to development is important. However, poverty alleviation must be given prime importance due to its direct impact on the realization of all other human rights," Amil stressed.

Pedro L. Pedroso Cuesta, permanent representative of Cuba to the UN office at Geneva, said that without achievements of the sustainable development goals, particularly in the eradication of poverty, economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights will not be able to be fully implemented.

Some 80 diplomats from more than 30 countries, including Russia, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Singapore, Nigeria, Algeria, Venezuela, and Argentina, as well as representatives of relevant international organizations, participated in the event, which was co-sponsored by China and South Africa.

(With input from Xinhua)