Human rights for all

Children of She ethnic group sit in front of a monument that reads "China's No. 1 Poverty Relief Village" at Chixi Village, Panxi town, Fuding city in East China's Fujian province, Feb 14, 2016. The village has shaken off poverty thanks to assistance from Party and government officials at all levels over the past 30 years. [Photo/Xinhua]

Saturday was Human Rights Day, so it is a good time to reflect on the common goal of human rights for all.

Fulfilling such a shared aspiration requires different countries to learn and cooperate with each other. This will create healthy and effective global governance and help build human rights. Sadly, the current global landscape provides a sharp contrast to such aims.

Certain Western countries while turning a blind eye to their own deep-rooted human rights issues, such as rampant gun crime, refugee crises and growing xenophobia, display a double standard on human rights, alongside a sense of superiority.

They politicize human rights, point fingers at others and even interfere in other countries' affairs, all in the name of human rights.

A one-size-fits-all approach to human rights does not exist. Blindly copying other countries' development modes while disregarding one's own national conditions invariably leads to social instability, not the protection of human rights.

China has lifted 700 million people out of poverty over more than 30 years of reform and opening-up. The country is striving to lift another 55 million out of poverty and constantly improving people's living standards through steady economic development while enhancing social fairness and justice.

The country is also increasing investment in lesser developed countries, writing off certain countries' debts and furthering the Belt and Road Initiative, establishing a Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to achieve common development with the countries along the two routes.

Improving human rights requires favorable international circumstances: countries should respect each other's efforts to protect human rights, values, historical and cultural traditions, and political systems.

To better protect human rights, countries should abandon double standards, not to mention their sense of superiority. All countries should cooperate and communicate with each other on human rights as equals.