Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Photo: Xinhua

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday addressed the 46th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council via video link, where he shared China's philosophy, practices, and experiences in human rights protection and put forward important views and propositions on global human rights governance on behalf of China, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Faced with the sudden onslaught of COVID-19, the Chinese government has followed the people-first approach and found the path of human rights development that suits China's national conditions and needs, Wang said.

Wang noted that China launched a global emergency humanitarian campaign, the largest of its kind since the founding of New China, to extend a helping hand to the countries and international organizations in need, as one of the country's concrete steps to honor commitment to building a global community of health for all.

And for the issues of global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, Wang said the process must be fair and in particular, accessible and affordable to developing countries, noting that as the first country that pledged to make vaccines a global public good, China is providing free vaccines to 53 countries in need, and exporting vaccines to 22 countries who have made purchasing requests.

"Xinjiang-related issues are in essence about countering violent terrorism and separatism," Wang said, adding that there has been no violent terrorist case for more than four years in a row in Xinjiang. 

Between 2010 and 2018, the Uygur population in Xinjiang increased by nearly 2.55 million, registering a growth rate of 25 percent. This is much higher than the 13.99 percent growth rate of the entire population in Xinjiang, and far higher than the 2 percent growth rate of the Han population in the region. 

As some international anti-China forces have concocted rumors and lies about Xinjiang for their personally driven ulterior motives, Wang said there has never been a so-called "genocide," "forced labor" or "religious oppression" in Xinjiang, and sated that China welcomes the High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Xinjiang.

In 2020, 832 poverty-stricken counties in China were lifted out of poverty as scheduled. However, Wang pointed out that China's poverty eradication is not just about higher income and living standards. More important, it is also about ensuring every individual's rights to education, healthcare, and housing.

As to how to maintain long-term peace and stability in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Wang said the legislation on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong has plugged the long-existing legal loopholes in the region.  "Nearly 70 percent of the residents feel that Hong Kong is more secure and stable since the National Security Law took effect," he added.

The regular session started Monday and will last to March 23 in Geneva, Switzerland, during which dignitaries representing more than 130 countries and regions will address the Council.