Ms. Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Distinguished Representatives and Diplomatic Envoys,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Chinese Government, let me begin by offering our sincere congratulations on the opening of the 13th Annual Workshop of the Framework on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region. Let me also take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to you, Ms. Louise Arbour and all the representatives from the governments of the Asia-Pacific countries, inter-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions and NGOs who have come to Beijing for the event.

Since its official launch in 1990 supported by the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Workshop has become a major platform for cooperation in this area among the countries in the region. Over the past 15 years, the Asia-Pacific countries, endeavoring to establish a regional human rights mechanism, have clearly defined and worked on four priority areas for regional human rights cooperation and achieved remarkable progress in setting up national human rights institutions, formulating human rights action plans, carrying out human rights education and promoting economic, social, cultural rights and the right to development. It has been proved that as long as we stick to the correct direction in promoting and protecting human rights and take into consideration the actualities of our region, we will continue to make headway in our cooperation and the cause of promoting human rights in our region.

The progress of the human rights cause in the Asia-Pacific region is closely interrelated with peace, security environment and economic-social development in our region. Today, peace, development and cooperation have taken root in the heart of our people. With increasing mutual political trust and accelerating economic integration, dialogue and cooperation have become the dominant theme in our region. The dynamic Asia-Pacific region has become one of the fastest-growing and most promising economies in today's world. Various forms of regional and sub-regional cooperation, as represented by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Pacific Islands Forum, has maintained a good momentum. All of these have created and will continue to create a favorable environment for the development of the human rights cause in our part of the world.

As the Asia-Pacific region is at a crucial historic juncture of its development, its human rights cause is faced with major opportunities. The population of our region accounts for over half of the world's total. By strengthening human rights cooperation and constantly enhancing people's human rights and other fundamental freedoms in our region on the basis of peace, stability, development and prosperity, we will both serve the fundamental interests of our people and contribute significantly to the human rights cause of the whole world. Let me share with you four observations in this connection:

First, human rights cooperation in the Asia-Pacific should conform to the principle of equality and mutual respect. Given the vastly different cultural heritages and conditions of dozens of Asia-Pacific countries, the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius' advice that "Gentlemen should live in harmony without uniformity" could serve as a guide in our regional cooperation. On the one hand, we should uphold the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and international human rights instruments and unswervingly promote and protect human rights to meet the fundamental interests of the people. On the other hand, every country should choose its own way to promote and protect human rights in line with its national conditions. There is no uniform standard with regard to national human rights action plans, national human rights institutions or human rights education. The purpose of regional cooperation is to facilitate emulation, exchanges and cooperation so as to achieve common development and progress.

Second, the priority of this cooperation should be the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development. The bulk of Asia-Pacific countries are still in the process of development. More than two thirds of the world's poor population live in our region. Despite the indisputable achievements of many Asia-Pacific countries in economic-social development, recurring regional conflicts, terrorism, financial crises, natural disasters, environmental degradation and major outbreaks of infectious diseases are still posing serious challenges to the realization of fundamental human rights. For the people of many countries in our region, poverty and backwardness remain the biggest hurdle to surmount before they can enjoy human rights fully. Under such circumstances, we have no other choice but to make the realization of the right to development and the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights our most pressing task and to focus on development, using it as a way to promote human rights and address relevant difficulties and problems in this process so that our people will be able to enjoy fundamental human rights at a higher level.

Third, an important aspect of our cooperation is to uphold the precious cultural heritages and values of our region and at the same time draw on the useful experience of other regions. As the cradle of several of the world's ancient civilizations, cultures and philosophies in the Asia-Pacific are rich and profound. Tolerance, benevolence, self-discipline, self-strengthening and the value on humanity, harmony and order are our precious assets. We have reasons to be proud of our heritages and the responsibility to carry them forward. We should make the most of this special advantage of ours and combine traditional thinking with modern concepts to create a system and a model with "Asia-Pacific characteristics" for promotion and protection of human rights as well as cooperation in this area. At the same time, Asia-Pacific countries should be ready to learn with an open mind from the experiences of the human rights mechanisms of Europe, Americas and Africa so that progress can be made in all regions. This is not only conducive to the development of human rights cause in our region, but serves international cooperation in the age of economic globalization as well.

Fourth, human rights cooperation in the Asia-Pacific should be carried out gradually and by consensus. In this large and populous area, there exist obvious disparities among the countries and sub-regions. Over the years, sub-regional human rights cooperation within the frameworks of the League of Arab States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Pacific Islands Forum has been unfolding, and exchanges and cooperation between sub-regions are also growing. These useful experiments have undoubtedly created favorable conditions for the countries to further expand the scope and raise the level of their cooperation. We should take full advantage of the exchange platform provided by the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Workshop and continue to draw on the successful experiences, strengthen coordination, integrate resources, seek the largest common interests and explore cooperation plans, channels and models that are acceptable to all countries. I believe, as long as every country can proceed from our common interests, address the differences properly and take into account other's concerns, we have reasons to have confidence about the establishment of a regional human rights cooperation mechanism.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Chinese nation has a tradition of cherishing human dignity and values. From the earlier precept of "putting people first" several millenniums ago to today's idea of "governing the country for the people", human rights concepts in China have been evolving with the times and progressing towards maturity. Thanks to nearly 27 years of reform and opening up, the Chinese people have experienced two historic leaps from a state of destitution to adequate livelihood and then to moderate prosperity. Meanwhile, putting into practice the basic principle of rule of law in all fields, China has advanced the reform of its political structure vigorously yet steadfastly, and persisted in improving the country's democracy and legal system. The decision by China's National People's Congress in March 2004 to incorporate the provision that the "State respects and protects human rights" into the Constitution has further highlighted the prominent position of human rights in China's national development strategy. At present, the Chinese Government is making earnest efforts to implement the constitutional principle of human rights protection and the human-centered scientific concept of comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development with a view to building a harmonious and dynamic society based on democracy and rule of law in which there are social justice, good faith and public order.

Cooperation instead of confrontation has become the general consensus of the international community. With an open and pragmatic approach, the Chinese Government has conducted bilateral human rights dialogues and exchanges with many countries and worked hard to promote regional and international human rights cooperation. Having hosted the 8th Asia-Pacific human rights workshop in 2000, we are delighted to have another opportunity to host this Workshop in cooperation with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. I am confident that, through the joint efforts of the participants from the governments, inter-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions and NGOs, this Workshop will give new impetus to human rights cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Before I conclude, let me wish the Workshop a great success!

Thank you.