China blazes a trail for human rights progress: Official

A senior Chinese official on Monday said in Geneva that China has blazed a trail for human rights development that has distinct Chinese features and made outstanding achievements in this field.

Huang Junxian, Inspector of the Human Rights Affairs Department of China's State Council Information Office, said that to respect and protect human rights is a key principle of governance for the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government.

"It is also an important goal of pursuing socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said during the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition showcasing China's progress and achievements in the human rights promotions.

A photo exhibition titled "For a Better Life of the People" opened Monday in the Palaise des Nations, the UN headquarters in Geneva, which is a collection of 70 pictures and 15 short videos that illustrate China's achievements in the human rights filed.

The first of its kind ever held in the Palaise des Nations, the exhibition was jointly sponsored by the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva and China's State Council Information Office.

"I hope, through this exhibition, you will know more about the human rights progress in China, and our arms are open to those who would like to visit China and experience first-hand the vigor of a modern China," Huang said.

According to the official, since the reform and opening-up was launched in 1978, China has lifted more than 700 million rural people out of poverty.

At the same time, he said, guided by both the universality of human rights and the realities in China, China has worked vigorously to protect and promote the economic, social, and cultural rights and the civil and political rights in a balanced way.

What's more, while dedicated to protecting human rights domestically, China is also faithfully honoring its international human rights obligations and trying to provide more public goods in the human rights field for the international community to the benefit of the healthy development of the human rights cause.

"China calls for building a community of shared future for mankind, pushes for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and has put forward the initiative to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, all of which will foster better conditions for the realization of the right to development in all countries," he noted.

"When it comes to human rights protection, no one can claim to be the best and we can always strive for the better," Huang concluded.