June 15,2021 -- From the right to life and health, to coronavirus vaccinations and stronger China-EU ties after COVID-19, the annual China-Europe Seminar on Human Rights is now underway in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. The forum was established in 2015, making this the seventh edition. CGTN's Dong Xue has the details.

 

Some 100 experts and scholars are attending a high-profile human rights seminar in China's southwest Chongqing municipality, under theme of COVID-19.

 

Since it launched in 2015, the organizers have said they hope the seminar can serve as a platform to promote dialogue and understanding between China and Europe.

 

President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, says China has received support and help from many countries during its unprecedented fight against COVID-19. At the same time, he says China has also contributed wisdom and strength to the global fight against the pandemic.

 

QIANGBA PUNCOG President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies "China has provided vaccine assistance to more than 80 developing countries in urgent need, exported vaccines to 43 countries and supplied 300 million doses of vaccines to the world. China has provided 2 billion U.S. dollars in assistance to developing countries."

 

The former ambassador of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs says human rights can represent an opportunity for dialogue and peace.

 

JOSE MANUEL DUARTE DE JESUS Former Ambassador, Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs "The European Union, especially during this troubled period, can play an important role as an independent actor, to avoid a Cold War scenario, and to facilitate fair competition in the economic field, especially in the areas of digital transformation and connectivity, as well as in the health sector."

 

DONG XUE Chongqing "China and the EU were among the first parts of the world to be hit hard by COVID-19. The trajectory of the pandemic and its economic fallout is still unclear, but one thing is for sure. The tragic cost to human life has been great, and is far from over. Experts say both China and the EU should respect each other's cultures and traditions, and avoid weaponizing human rights. Instead, they say they should be committed to cooperation through continued dialogue. Dong Xue, CGTN, Chongqing.