Distinguished Guests,
Friends,

I'd like to welcome you all to Hangzhou for the Hernán Santa Cruz Dialogue on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

At the moment, the world is undergoing profound transformation of a scale not seen in a century. Geopolitical conflicts keep flaring up. Global economic recovery remains weak. Deficit in human rights governance is widening. Ensuring the equal enjoyment of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) by all is an important goal for the realization of all human rights. For this to happen, it is important to uphold true multilateralism, respect countries' independent choice of human rights development path, and enhance dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect. It is important to adhere to a people-centered approach, step up efforts on the ESCR, and focus on addressing uneven development. It is also important to strengthen solidarity and coordination, and increase the support to developing countries from developed countries to make sure that no one is left behind.

Committed to putting people first, China has found a path of human rights development that is in line with the trend of the times and suits its national conditions. Historic achievements have been made in China's human rights cause, and the protection of the ESCR has reached new heights. Last July, the Communist Party of China held the successful Third Plenary Session of its 20th Central Committee. A blueprint was drawn for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which will provide favourable conditions for the equal enjoyment of the ESCR of Chinese people at a higher level. China will continue to work with all countries and U.N. agencies to pursue the common values of humanity, advocate safeguarding human rights with security, promoting human rights with development, and advancing human rights with cooperation, to contribute to sound and sustainable development of the global human rights cause.

I wish this dialogue a great success.