On 12 September, a Chinese-Central Asian Forum on the development of Human Rights was held in Beijing, dedicated to the theme “Co-building the Belt and Road – the development and progress of human rights,” the magazine “China” reports.
The event held under the auspices of the Chinese Foundation for the Development of Human Rights was organized by the Center for Broadcasting to Europe and Asia (People’s Huabao Publishing House) of the PRC Administration for the Publication and Distribution of Literature in Foreign Languages.
The Forum gathered more than 100 participants including experts, scientists, representatives of mass media and think tanks, young people from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and other countries. International organizations such as the SCO and CICA have also joined the work of the forum.
Opening the forum, Wang Gang, Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, urged to take advantage of the fruits of the first China–Central Asia Summit and work together to achieve new successes in the development of human rights in China and the Central Asian states.
He put forward three proposals: firstly, to implement the “spirit of the Silk Road” and concentrate cultural forces for cooperation in the field of human rights; secondly, to increase the intensity of communication and exchange of experience in order to reveal the practical potential of interaction in the field of human rights; thirdly, to be more open to young people and those thereby increase the potential for cooperation in the field of human rights.
Wang Guoqing, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Chinese Foundation for the Development of Human Rights, expressed hope that the parties would benefit from the opportunity to cooperate in substantive research, increase international cooperation in the field of public goods, and intensify humanitarian exchanges.
Du Zhanyuan, Head of the PRC Department for the Publication and Distribution of Literature in Foreign Languages, stressed the importance of an equal dialogue to promote mutual learning between civilizations and strengthen ties between peoples.
Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Ming expressed support to the states of the region, including China and Central Asian countries, in their desire to pursue bilateral and multilateral friendly cooperation at various levels, in various forms and in various industries.
Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA) Kairat Sarybai recalled that the CICA member States actively interact on a wide range of humanitarian issues, including respect for human rights, with a view of strengthening democracy, rule of law, civil society, promotion of dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions of Asia, empowerment of women and girls, science and education, as well as cooperation within the framework of the CICA Youth Council.
Within the framework of the forum, the Youth Initiative for the Development of Human Rights “China – Central Asia” was unveiled. The text was read out by six youth representatives from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Panel discussions were also held at the forum. Experts, scientists, media executives and youth representatives from China and Central Asia discussed the impact of the joint implementation of the Belt and Road initiative on the development and progress of human rights, as well as the responsibility of youth in the joint building of the Belt and Road.
The China–Central Asia Human Rights Development Forum is being held in the 10th anniversary year of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is the first event of its kind to focus on raising awareness of Central Asia about the Chinese approach to human rights development. The organizers hope that the forum will help to bring the peoples of China and Central Asia closer together.///nCa, 13 September 2023 [Photo credit – magazine ‘China’]