China's human rights progress lauded

Foreign officials and experts have commended China's human rights achievements, highlighting its people-centered approaches to protecting and promoting economic, social and cultural rights as representatives from more than 40 countries gathered in China for a weeklong program on discussions and exchanges on human rights.

During a visit to the Sensory Experience Gallery of the Palace Museum in Beijing on Tuesday, the visitors experienced how multisensory technologies guarantee cultural participation for people with disabilities as they explored the Forbidden City.

"It is a privilege, an honor, a happiness for the creator," said Sandra Michel, a legal adviser at Seychelles' ministry of foreign affairs and tourism, as she viewed artworks made by or for people with disabilities.

"It is a way to reward the disabled for their contribution to society. The main thing is that people are at the center of China's policies," noted Michel, while speaking on China's efforts in promoting human rights. "Much attention has been put into well-being."

While noting that China has made significant strides and achieved considerable success in this regard, Craig Douglas, a foreign service officer at Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, acknowledged China's notable progress and success in promoting human rights, adding that he views the visit to China as a great opportunity "because it gives us a real-life example of how to design policies to promote economic, social and cultural rights".

Douglas highlighted digitalization — particularly the use of artificial intelligence in policy-making — as a key area for cooperation. "AI can work and help in areas that would normally be beyond the human brain," he said, emphasizing the need to jointly strengthen digital capacity.

In addition, he pointed to education and health as vital fields for collaboration among developing countries.

Rut Noboa, a foreign policy analyst from the Dominican Republic, expressed high expectations for the visit — not only for learning practices regarding economic, social and cultural rights, but also for gaining deeper insight into China's history, culture and the practical implementation of the public policy needed to achieve economic, social and cultural rights.

Human rights cooperation with China can be strengthened through platforms similar to the ongoing workshop, which foster multilateralism and international collaboration, thereby advancing progress in both human rights and other fields, she added.

The workshop, which will also bring the participants to Fuzhou and Xiamen in East China's Fujian province on Friday, focused on economic, social and cultural rights.

These rights, a key aspect of overall human rights, value access to food, housing, education, health, work, and cultural participation.

To mark the global observance of Human Rights Day on Wednesday, Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said that China has always attached great importance to respecting and protecting human rights, and has embarked on a path of human rights development that conforms to the trend of the times and suits its national conditions.

The country, he said, remains an active participant in global human rights governance, engaging in extensive exchanges and cooperation with other countries.