Source: http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/conferences/hrc2006/four/hrc070315pm2-eng.rm?start=01:45:08&end=01:50:25

Human Rights Council, Fourth Session
March 15, 2007
General Debate- Introduction of Reports

China

Thank you, Mr. President.  With regard to the report presented by Secretary General on the cooperation with the representative of the UN human rights institutions we have the following observations to make:

First, the report singled out some individual and group cases in seven developing countries, where some people have involved in contacting with UN institutions.  Yet, it did not specify the reason or criteria for singe this out.  Therefore, this selective approach have led people to doubt its objectivity and fairness.

Secondly, the Chinese government has valued highly its cooperation with UN human rights institutions, has always investigated into the accusations- and one case involving China, in the spirit of cooperation, the Chinese government has timely, three times replied the accusations from several Rapporteurs, yet regrettably, this report failed to mention the reply from the Chinese government.  The Chinese representative to the UN in Geneva has also written a letter to the Chairman of the Council, therefore I will not repeat the details of this case, yet I want to emphasize that once a sovereign state government in the high spirit of cooperation expend a lot of high energy to support and cooperate with the special mechanisms of the UN human rights, I think special mechanisms should at least demonstrate the minimum degree of cooperation, accountability, and professionalism, and “due respect to the government.”

With regard to the right to development, the Chinese delegation fully supports the statement made by Cuba on behalf of NAM and China.

With regard to the high level task force, we would like to make the following two observations: First of all in accordance with the Declaration on the right to development, in order to achieve this right, all the countries should formulate the strategies for sustainable development.  Furthermore, they require the international environment created by the international community.  This task force in studying relevant standards should take into account those international and domestic dimensions, especially it should put forward more specific criteria and proposals on how to improve overall international environment.  Secondly, the limit of the task force lies in its exclusive focus on development aid at the expense of other development-related issues.  Development aid is only a small part of the whole issue of development.  We hope that the high level group will further broaden scope of study and engage extensively in issues related to issues of eradicating poverty, trade, transfer technology, and then put forward relevant reports to the eighth session of the group.

With regard to the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration, we appreciate the High Commissioner in her statement that the High Commissioner office will continue to regard this as a priority in its work, yet the reality is the anti-discrimination unit its recruitment work had not yet been complete until now.  Its chief has been changed five times within 4 years.  The Chinese delegation firmly supports the African Group, its position on this issue.  We hope that High Commissioner will give full support- financial support and human resource support to the work of this unit.  We also welcome the appointment of five independent experts that will demonstrate the spirit of justice, objectively, and professionalism, and make study of the complimentary international standards and provide relevant reports.

Thank you, Mr. President.