From December 10 to 11, 2019, the "2019·South-South Human Rights Forum" jointly sponsored by the Information Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing. The theme of this forum is "Diversity of Civilizations and Global Development of Human Rights". The main session is chaired by Jiang Jianguo, Deputy Director of Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. Over 300 people, including representative officials, experts and scholars from more than 80 Asian, African and Latin American countries and international organizations gathered in Beijing. Centering on the choice of human rights path, global human rights governance, the promotion of The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the Belt and Road Initiative, the practice and experience of human rights protection and other topics, they had in-depth communications and jointly explored the effective ways to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The picture shows Jiang Jianguo, Deputy Director of Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, presiding over the opening ceremony of the main session

Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat and Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech at the main session. He pointed out that respecting and safeguarding human rights is an important achievement of human civilization and a consistent pursuit of the CPC and the Chinese government. The CPC has always regarded the pursuit of happiness for the people as its original inspiration, and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics has always been based on safeguarding the interests of all the people. China adheres to the combination of universality and particularity of human rights, and persists in promoting development through cooperation and promoting human rights through development, so as to constantly improve the sense of happiness, sense of gain and security of all people. Under the new situation, developing countries should join hands to maintain a peaceful and stable environment for human rights development, create a variety of human rights development models, seek a balanced and full vision for human rights development, improve fair and reasonable global human rights governance, and contribute to the advancement of the global human rights cause and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The picture shows Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat and Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, speaking at the main session.

Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Foreign Minister, delivered a keynote speech at the main session. He said that human civilization is rich and colorful, and human rights development paths of all countries are also diverse. We should uphold the mission and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, earnestly respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and oppose the politicization of human rights, the imposition of human rights on others and double standards. We should hold high the banner of multilateralism, uphold international law and the norms of international relations, deal with human rights fairly, objectively and non-selectively, and resolve human rights differences through dialogue.

The picture shows Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Foreign Minister, delivering a keynote speech at the main session (Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Law School of our university was appointed to co-organized the Parallel Session III of the forum with the theme of "The Right to Development: the Belt and Road Initiative Promote the Realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". More than 50 people, including diplomatic envoys, officials of the United Nations Human Rights Council, human rights representatives, officials, experts, scholars, and representatives of the media from 26 countries participated in the discussion of the parallel session. The guests had in-depth discussions and exchanges on the topics and reached consensus, unanimously agreeing on that China's "Belt and Road Initiate" has well promoted the agenda for sustainable development, and advanced the development of the countries along the route of the initiative and the achievement of human rights. It has provided China's path and China's wisdom for realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The picture shows Shen Yongxiang, Vice President of China Society for Human Rights Studies and former Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presiding over the Parallel Session III of the forum.

The picture shows Michael Njunga MULIKITA, Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Mulungushi University in Zambia, presiding over the Parallel Session III of the forum and giving a speech entitled "The Right to Development: Synergies between the 'Belt and Road Initiative' and 'Agenda 2063'".

The picture shows Li Yunlong, Professor of the Institute for International Strategic Studies of the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China (National Academy of Governance), presiding over the Parallel Session III of the forum and delivering a speech entitled "The Contribution of the Belt and Road Initiative to Global Poverty Reduction".

The picture shows Ramel Farouk Karim GHEZRAOUI, Chief of the Groups in Focus Unit of the Special Procedures Division of the Special Mechanisms Division of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, speaking at the Parallel Session III of the forum.

The picture shows Liu Xinsheng, an expert of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, speaking at the Parallel Session III of the forum.

Wang Xigen, Dean of Law School and President of Institute for Human Rights Law, distinguished Professor of Changjiang Scholar of our university, delivered on the Parallel Session III a speech entitled "The Contribution of China's Human Rights Civilization to the Global Development of Human Rights—the Contribution of the Belt and Road Initiative to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", and delivered concluding remarks at the closing ceremony of the main session on behalf of the Parallel Session III.

The picture shows Professor Wang Xigen, Dean of Law School of our university, speaking at the closing ceremony of the main session.

Attaching great importance to the relevant work of this forum, our university has established a preparatory leading group led by Xu Xiaodong, Vice President; Liu Jiuming, Director of the Liberal Arts Department; Nie Qingbin, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Law School; and Wang Xigen, Dean of Law School. Xu Xiaodong presided over a special meeting to deploy relevant work for the special working group consisting of more than 20 people, including teachers, doctoral students and master students of Law School. Nie Qingbin led a team to visit Shanghai and Hangzhou and the main session in Beijing, so as to wholeheartedly serve the guests attending the forum and do a good job in reception, meeting affairs and coordination related to the forum.

In this forum, the Law School of our university provided superb service in a responsible manner and at a professional level for the preparation and service for the forum with high quality, ensuring the smooth progress of the forum. The successful holding of this forum laid the foundation for further expanding the global reputation of Law School of our university.

The picture shows Wang Xigen (left), Dean of Law School of our university, and Nie Qingbin (right), Secretary of the CPC Committee of Law School, at the scene of the main session.

The picture shows the group photo of Secretary Nie Qingbin (fifth from the left), Dean Wang Xigen (sixth from the left), Professor He Shiqing (fourth from the left), Associate Professor Li Lei (third from the right), Teacher Teng Rui (third from the left), and Teacher Shen Fang (second from the right) of Law School of our university with all the students in the meeting affairs group.

Texts By: Zhou Yating, Cui Shihuan

Pictures: Dou Jiayue

Translated by Pan Yingzhao