VI. Human Rights

Governments of all countries in the world are duty-bound to promote and protect human rights in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant provisions of the international instruments on human rights, taking into account their respective national conditions. The international community should recognize that all human rights are indivisible and attach equal importance to the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights, the civil and political rights, as well as the right to development. Due to different national conditions, countries have taken different approaches and adopted different models on human rights. It is undesirable to impose one uniform model in the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Chinese Government is an active advocate of international cooperation in the field of human rights. We stand for dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect to address differences on the issue of human rights and enhancing mutual understanding and learning for common development. We oppose politicizing human rights issues and adopting double standards.

China takes part in the work of the UN Human Rights Council with a constructive attitude and is ready to work with other parties to ensure that the Council seizes the opportunity of its review to increase efficiency and address human rights issues in a fair, objective and non-selective manner.

VII. Social Issues

1. Transnational Crimes

Rampant transnational crimes like production and trafficking of illicit drugs, trafficking in persons, money laundering and corruption, often connected with terrorist activities, pose serious threats to economic development and public order in various countries and present challenges to regional stability and even world peace.

Strengthening international cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crimes is not only the common need of the international community for maintaining peace and security but also a shared, unshirkable responsibility of all countries. The United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime is an important document in the fight against transnational crimes. The international community should, in accordance with the purposes and spirit of the Convention, earnestly fulfill their obligations under the Convention, show mutual respect and conduct cooperation on an equal footing. Developed countries should take the concerns of developing countries seriously and avoid becoming safe havens for the corrupt.

2. HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is a serious human health hazard and an impediment to the economic and social development of all countries. To prevent and control HIV/AIDS is an urgent task of the international community and an important aspect in achieving the MDGs.

The international community, especially the developed countries, should do more to help the developing countries strengthen their capacity of HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and other international institutions should increase coordination and play an even greater role in helping developing countries fight HIV/AIDS.

The Chinese Government has taken a host of measures to prevent and control HIV/AIDS and worked hard to increase the level of rights protection of those living with HIV/AIDS and strengthen the awareness of the whole of society to care for HIV-infected people and AIDS patients. China takes an active part in international cooperation on HIV/AIDS and is ready to continue to work with the international community to reduce the harm of HIV/AIDS.

3. Public Health Security

Public health security bears on the health and safety of people of all countries. To ensure global public health security is a shared responsibility of the international community. Governments of all countries should continue to enhance public health capacity building in order to provide a strong guarantee for human health and promote coordinated and sustainable economic and social development.

The Chinese Government puts the people first, attaches great importance to public health and is now deepening the reform of the medical and healthcare system. China is ready to make joint efforts with all parties and relevant international organizations to strengthen exchanges and sharing of information, experience and technology and deepen cooperation to better tackle global public health challenges and enhance people's physical and mental health.

4. Anti-Corruption

Corruption affects the economic and social development of every country and is a common concern of the international community. To strengthen international cooperation against corruption and encourage countries to exchange anti-corruption experience are conducive to the anti-corruption efforts of all countries and regions.

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the first international legal instrument on fighting corruption worldwide, sets the legal principles and rules applicable to all countries in their joint efforts to deal with and prevent corruption. All countries should earnestly strengthen international cooperation against corruption on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit. The implementation mechanism should focus on playing a constructive role, assisting and promoting the implementation of the Convention and facilitating international cooperation between State Parties. State Parties should strengthen the political will to participate in international cooperation against corruption and reduce the limitations on extradition and asset recovery under domestic laws and procedures. Technical assistance should be provided to developing countries without any political strings attached to help them build the capacity for implementing the Convention.

VIII. UN Financing

The smooth operation of the UN requires a stable financial foundation. All member states of the UN should, in accordance with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of "capacity to pay" set out in UNGA resolutions, continue to earnestly fulfill their financial obligations to the UN by paying assessments for both regular budget and peacekeeping operations on time and in full, and without conditions, to ensure a solid and stable financial footing for the UN.

The efficiency of the use of UN resources should be further enhanced through integration of resources and programs with full consideration and accommodation given to the legitimate concerns and demands of developing countries.

Member states should step up coordination and communication to improve work efficiency and give more guidance to the Secretariat in program coordination, finance and budget.

IX. Rule of Law

1. The Rule of Law at the National and International Levels

It is a shared goal of all countries to achieve the rule of law at the national and international levels. Countries are entitled to independently choose the models of rule of law that are suitable for their national conditions and can learn from each other's model for common development. To strengthen international rule of law, it is necessary to uphold the authority of the Charter of the United Nations, strictly abide by the well-established principles and rules of international law, adhere to the consistent application of international law, avoid double standards, improve international law-making process and promote democracy in international relations.

2. Combating Impunity

China condemns all forms of crime, supports the efforts of all countries and encourages international cooperation to eliminate impunity. The international efforts to eliminate impunity in conflict areas should be in line with the goal of protecting the well-being of all people in the conflict areas. They should not disrupt the ongoing peace process in those areas or hamper the efforts in those areas to promote national reconciliation and build enduring peace. The issue of impunity can only be better addressed with relaxation of tension and political stability in related regions.

3. The International Court of Justice

China supports an enhanced role of the International Court of Justice in the peaceful settlement of international disputes and supports the Court in improving its way of work. China hopes that the Court will play a positive role in safeguarding a stable international order and upholding justice. The right of each country to freely choose the method of peaceful settlement of disputes should be respected.

4. The International Criminal Court

China supports the establishment of an independent, impartial, effective and universally recognized international criminal institution to punish the most serious international crimes. The work of the International Criminal Court should serve the purpose of promoting international peace and security and safeguarding the well-being of mankind, and it should be pursued in coordination and cooperation with other international mechanisms and in a way that does not impede or jeopardize the relevant peace processes. China will continue to pay close attention to the work of the International Criminal Court.

5. Oceans and the Law of the Sea

Maritime harmony is part and parcel of building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. To establish and maintain a harmonious international order on the sea, we advocate the following:

First, strike a balance between rational utilization and scientific conservation of the sea. With a view to achieving harmony between man and the sea, while utilizing the sea in a sustainable manner for the benefit of mankind, we should also strengthen conservation.

Second, make an equitable distribution of maritime interests and share the responsibility of conservation. The particularity and concerns of developing countries, especially of the least developed countries and small island states, should be given special attention.

Third, strike a balance between the rights of coastal states and the overall interests of the international community. The outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles should be delineated in a scientific and reasonable manner. While ensuring the rights that coastal states are entitled to under the international law, we should also protect the international seabed area which is the common heritage of mankind.

Fourth, uphold the legal order of the sea with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the foundation. The Convention is an important basis for addressing new issues and challenges in the maritime field and a legal foundation for the modern maritime order. The international community should make sure that the integrity and authority of the Convention are safeguarded.

Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn