习近平会见联合国人权事务高级专员

国家主席习近平5月25日在北京以视频方式会见联合国人权事务高级专员巴切莱特。

习近平对巴切莱特访华表示欢迎，并结合中国历史和文化，深入阐述了事关中国人权事业发展的重大问题，表明了中国党和政府致力于全方位维护和保障人权的原则立场。习近平强调，中国共产党从诞生那一天起，就把为中国人民谋幸福、为中华民族谋复兴作为自己的初心使命，100多年来一直为人民利益而奋斗。人民对美好生活的向往就是我们的奋斗目标。经过长期艰苦奋斗，中国成功走出了一条顺应时代潮流、适合本国国情的人权发展道路。我们不断发展全过程人民民主，推进人权法治保障，维护社会公平正义，中国人民享有更加广泛、更加充分、更加全面的民主权利。中国人民的人权得到前所未有的保障。

习近平指出，人权保障没有最好，只有更好。中方愿意在平等和相互尊重基础上，同各方积极开展人权对话和合作，扩大共识、减少分歧、相互借鉴、共同进步，共同推进国际人权事业，造福各国人民。当前，最重要的是做好四件事。

一是坚持以人民为中心。要把人民利益作为出发点和落脚点，不断解决好人民最关心最直接最现实的利益问题，努力让人民过上幸福生活，这才是最大的人权。一国人权状况好不好，关键看本国人民利益是否得到维护，人民的获得感、幸福感、安全感是否得到增强，这是检验一国人权状况的最重要标准。要让人民真正当家作主，成为人权事业发展的主要参与者、促进者、受益者。

二是尊重各国人权发展道路。人权是历史的、具体的、现实的，各国国情不同，历史文化、社会制度、经济社会发展水平存在差异，必须也只能从本国实际和人民需求出发，探索适合自己的人权发展道路。脱离实际、全盘照搬别国制度模式，不仅会水土不服，而且会带来灾难性后果，最终受害的还是广大人民群众。这方面的例子很多，要引以为戒。

三是统筹兼顾各类人权。人权内涵是全面的、丰富的，必须综合施策，系统推进。对于发展中国家来说，生存权、发展权是首要人权。要努力实现更高质量、更有效率、更加公平、更可持续、更为安全的发展，为人权事业发展提供坚强保障。

四是加强全球人权治理。促进和保护人权是全人类的事业，需要大家共同努力。在人权问题上不存在十全十美的“理想国”，不需要对别国颐指气使的“教师爷”，更不能把人权问题政治化、工具化，搞双重标准，以人权为借口干涉别国内政。要恪守联合国宪章宗旨和原则，弘扬全人类共同价值，推动全球人权治理朝着更加公平公正合理包容的方向发展。中方将继续支持联合国为促进国际人权事业作出积极努力。

巴切莱特表示，感谢中方克服疫情困难接待我访华，这是17年来联合国人权高专首次访华，我十分重视和珍惜这次访问，将同中国政府和社会各界人士广泛接触、直接沟通，相信这次访问将有助于我更好了解中国。我钦佩中方在消除贫困、保护人权、实现经济社会发展等方面所作努力和取得的成就，赞赏中方为维护多边主义、应对气候变化等全球性挑战、促进全球可持续发展等方面发挥的重要作用。高专办愿同中方加强沟通，探讨合作，为促进全球人权事业进步作出共同努力。

丁薛祥、杨洁篪、王毅（在广州）参加会见。

President Xi meets UN human rights chief Bachelet

President Xi Jinping met via video link with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday in Beijing.

President Xi welcomed Bachelet to China. He expounded on major issues regarding China's human rights development in the context of China's history and culture, and reaffirmed the principled position of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government in upholding and protecting human rights in all areas. He stressed that, on day one of its existence, the CPC identified as its founding mission the pursuit of happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and has been working hard for the people's interests over the past century. The people's aspiration for a better life is what we are striving for. After decades of strenuous efforts, China has successfully found a path of human rights development in keeping with the trend of the times and China's national reality. We have been advancing whole-process people's democracy, promoting legal safeguard for human rights and upholding social equity and justice. The Chinese people now enjoy fuller and more extensive and comprehensive democratic rights. The human rights of the Chinese people are guaranteed like never before.

President Xi pointed out that in terms of human rights protection, no one can claim perfection and there is always room for improvement. On the basis of equality and mutual respect, China is ready to actively conduct human rights dialogue and cooperation with all other parties to expand common understanding, reduce differences, promote mutual learning, seek progress together, and jointly advance the international human rights cause for the greater benefit of people across the world. At present, it is most important to work on the following four priorities:

First, putting people front and center. It is important to take the people's interests as the fundamental purpose and goal, make continuous efforts to address the most pressing and immediate issues that concern the people the most, and strive to deliver a better life to the people. That is the biggest human right. How a country is doing on human rights is essentially gauged by whether the interests of its people are upheld, and whether they enjoy a growing sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. That is the most important criterion for assessing the human rights conditions of a country. The people should become the true masters of their countries and the main participants, contributors and beneficiaries of human rights development.

Second, respecting different countries' paths of human rights development. Human rights have historical, specific and practical contexts. With different national conditions, histories, cultures, social systems and levels of economic and social development, countries should and can only explore suitable paths of human rights development in light of national realities and people's needs. Any system or model blindly copied from another country regardless of the situation on the ground will not only look out of place, but also bring disastrous consequences. Should that happen, it is the people who will bear the brunt. There is no shortage of such examples, and lessons must be learned.

Third, following a holistic approach to all categories of human rights. Human rights are a rich and all-encompassing concept, and must be advanced with integrated and systematic measures. For developing countries, the rights to subsistence and development are the primary human rights. More efforts are needed to achieve development of higher quality, efficiency, equity, sustainability and security, so as to provide strong safeguards for the advancement of human rights.

Fourth, stepping up global human rights governance. The promotion and protection of human rights is a common cause for humanity and thus requires the concerted efforts of all. When it comes to human rights issues, there is no such thing as a flawless utopia; countries do not need patronizing lecturers; still less should human rights issues be politicized and used as a tool to apply double standards, or as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. It is important to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, advocate humanity's common values, and steer global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, equity and inclusiveness. China will continue to support the UN in making positive efforts for the international human rights cause.

Ms. Bachelet expressed appreciation to China for receiving her visit despite the COVID challenge, the first visit to China by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 17 years. She very much values and cherishes this visit and will have extensive engagements and direct communication with the Chinese government and people across different sectors. The High Commissioner is confident that this visit will give her a better understanding of China. She expressed admiration for China's efforts and achievements in eliminating poverty, protecting human rights and realizing economic and social development, and commended China's important role in upholding multilateralism, confronting global challenges such as climate change, and promoting sustainable development across the world. The High Commissioner's Office would like to enhance communication and explore cooperation with the Chinese side to make joint efforts for the progress of the global human rights cause.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi (in Guangzhou) were present at the meeting.