A webinar titled “Xinjiang is a Wonderful Land” was held on Feb. 3 to introduce Xinjiang’s natural scenery and development achievements with diplomats from more than 50 countries, including nearly 20 ambassadors, attending the event.

 

The online event, jointly held by China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva and the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, also attracted the participation of officials from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN human rights experts.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

The world should come together to reject vaccine nationalism, promote fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, and in particular, make them accessible and affordable for developing countries, including those in conflicts, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Feb. 17.

 

Wang made his remarks at a virtual meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) concerning the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

The United Nations Human Rights Council started its 46^th regular session on February 22, 2021.

 

The annual event begins with a high-level segment from February 22 to 24, when dignitaries representing more than 130 countries and regions will address the Council.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb. 22 addressed a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland via video link.

 

The regular session started on Feb. 22 and will last until March 23, during which time dignitaries representing more than 130 countries and regions will address the council.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Feb. 22 stressed that COVID-19 vaccines must be a global public good, accessible and affordable for all.

 

Speaking at the opening of the 46^th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, he noted that vaccine equity is a critical step in the realization of human rights, while “vaccine nationalism sets us back.”

 

From: CGTN

 

 

In the face of global environmental problems, no single country can solve them alone, said Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu at the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA5) on Feb. 22, calling for global action to resolve the issue.

 

The two-day UNEA5 themed “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” is the first-ever virtual global environment assembly.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

Xinjiang has achieved remarkable growth and benefited all its residents, that’s the message from the international online conference “A Better Life For All” which was held on Feb. 22 in Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

 

More than 300 participants from more than 80 countries and regions, including many who have stayed in Xinjiang, attended the meeting.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

More than 33,000 Chinese prosecutors acted as deputy principals in over 45,000 schools across the country last year to advance legal education for students, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) said on Feb. 22.

 

Chinese procuratorial organs also produced TV programs and short videos and compiled books to improve education on the rule of law for minors, said Shi Weizhong, an official with the SPP.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

On average, women around the world only have three-quarters of the legal rights afforded to men, with the COVID-19 pandemic reinforcing gender inequalities,according to a World Bank report released on Feb. 23.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

China on Feb. 22 unveiled its “No. 1 central document” for 2021, stressing the efforts to comprehensively push forward rural vitalization and accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

China on Feb. 24 voiced strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition over a Xinjiang-related motion passed by Canada’s House of Commons, saying the move wantonly interfered in China’s internal affairs and made malicious provocation against

Chinese people.

 

China’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva also speech to the U.N. Human Rights Council on Feb. 24, said that “At this high-level segment, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Germany, the United States, Canada and a few others abused the platform of Human Rights Council to make groundless accusations against China and interfere in China’s internal affairs, which China strongly opposes and categorically rejects.”

 

From: CGTN

 

 

The results of a national anti-poverty census, released on Feb. 25, have attested to China’s “complete victory” in eradicating absolute poverty.

 

According to the current standards, all Chinese poverty-stricken rural residents have been lifted out of poverty, said sources with the State Council leading group office of national anti-poverty census.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China, the world’s most populous country, on Feb. 25 declared that it has eliminated absolute poverty. The feat means China has solved absolute poverty, which has existed for thousands of years. The nation’s people have now realized their long cherished wish for ample food and clothing as well as comfortable housing.

 

China’s achievement in poverty alleviation is not just limited to improvements in material conditions but also includes efforts in raising public spirit. The country has boosted the enthusiasm, ambition and creativity of the poor by providing them access to education and helped build aspirations.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China added 11.86 million new urban jobs nationwide in 2020, exceeding the target of creating over nine million urban jobs, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Feb. 26.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

Officials and leaders gathered online for the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council to discuss poverty alleviation and the protection of human rights on Feb. 26.

 

With China recently declaring its achievements in eliminating extreme poverty, Su Guoxia director-general of General Affairs Department from China National Rural Revitalization Bureau, attended the event and shared the country’s experience via video message. Su spoke about how people were always first and foremost on the country’s strategy out of poverty.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations’ (UN) Geneva office on Feb. 27 called for countries to strengthen global cooperation and multilateralism and urged the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to conduct constructive dialogue to fulfill its duty.

 

Chen Xu made the remarks in a statement on behalf of 32 states, including Russia, Cuba, Pakistan, South Africa, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, at the ongoing 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

 

From: CGTN

 

March 2021
 

 

New regulations forbidding discriminatory content in online job advertisements took effect on March 1.

 

The regulations, released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security last December, stipulate that employers should not post any online recruitment advertisements that discriminate against job hunters of any nationality,race, gender or religious belief.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China will implement a strategy that prioritizes employment, according to a draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives through the year 2035 unveiled on March 2.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) on March 2 introduced China’s historic achievement and hands-on experience in poverty alleviation to UN organizations and member states during a virtual briefing.

 

China has completed the task of eradicating absolute poverty, which is truly a miracle of human society, Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN said during his briefing.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

A seminar on employment and labor rights in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was held online on March 3 on the sidelines of the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

 

The seminar was sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, and the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland.

 

Organized by the Institute for Communication and Borderland Governance and the School of Journalism and Communication of the Guangzhou-based Jinan University, the event drew experts and scholars from relevant human rights research institutions in China.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Over 20 Chinese and foreign scholars exchanged opinions on human rights cooperation and achievement under the Belt and Road Initiative at a seminar held on the sidelines of the 46^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on March 5.

 

The seminar held via video link was jointly sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Chinese people’s personal safety and livelihoods are protected by courts across the country, according to the annual work report delivered by Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) on March 8.

 

By listing typical cases courts in the country had tried in the past year, the report showed China’s determination to protect its people’s rights through legislation and justice trial.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

China has been committed to punishing crimes with due consideration to protecting human rights, according to a work report of the Supreme People’s Court(SPC).

 

Efforts were made in 2020 to protect the innocent from being criminalized and prevent the guilty from escaping punishment, read the report submitted on March 8 to the ongoing national legislative session for deliberation.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Poverty reduction efforts in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region were praised for their positive role in human rights improvement at a symposium held in Beijing on March 9.

 

China’s precision poverty alleviation endeavors have delivered what amounts to a historic achievement in the autonomous region and thus gone a long way toward ensuring local residents’ inherent rights to subsistence and development, experts said at a side-event of the 46^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Developing countries including China, Russia, Syria, Iran and Cuba on March 9 made a joint statement at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), condemning unilateral measures imposed by some Western countries.

 

These measures have seriously violated human rights, and interfered in national sovereignty and internal affairs, said the statement.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

In the past 70 years, southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has witnessed historic progress in terms of socioeconomic development and provision of human rights under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Lobsang Samdan, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, from Tibet’s Ali Prefecture.

 

Samdan, who is also the vice chairman of Ali’s CPPCC regional committee, was speaking during an event known as the Members’ Corridor ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 10.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

Cuba on March 12 delivered a joint statement on behalf of 64 countries at the ongoing 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), calling on some forces to stop making unfounded allegations against China out of political

motivations.

 

All sides should promote and protect human rights through constructive dialogue and cooperation, and firmly oppose politicization of human rights and double standards, said the joint statement.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China says it’s always supported the development of its ethnic minority groups. A video conference was held on the sidelines of the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on March 12 with experts discussing the situation of ethnic minorities and protection of human rights in China. Participants from several countries, including China, Russia and Egypt talked about China’s policies on its ethnic minority groups.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

The number of child trafficking cases has declined significantly in China thanks to the unremitting efforts of public security organs, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said on March 15.

 

Crimes involving stealing or snatching of children dropped to around 20 annually with all such cases solved in a timely manner, the ministry told a press conference.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Women’s equality and empowerment will effectively promote women’s participation in social and public affairs, which in turn will accelerate the realization of the 2030 goal of sustainable human development, representatives from China stressed during a UN conference.

 

During the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women commenced that kicked off on March 15, 42 members from China Youth AIDS Prevention and Education Project Office exchanges their ideas with representatives worldwide.

 

This year’s session emphasized the effective participation and decision-making role of women in public life and called for the full protection of women’s rights in accordance with the law.

 

From: China Daily

 

 

China’s experience in combating poverty, the South-South cooperation in poverty alleviation and human rights protection were discussed at a side-event to the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held online on March 17.

 

The seminar was attended by nearly 20 scholars from countries including China, Germany, the Netherlands, Egypt and South Africa.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted on March 17 the outcomes of its Universal Periodic Review of the United States, shedding light on the appalling state of basic human rights in the country.

 

During the review, a U.S. representative underscored the country’s pride in its human rights records, whereas a series of alarming facts painted a different portrait of the self-proclaimed “leader of the free world.”

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Poverty eradication has improved women’s rights in China and has given a strong impetus to the global implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda, said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, on March 19.

 

Eradicating poverty among women is a critical area of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action and a focus of China’s poverty reduction efforts, Zhang told a webinar themed “Women and poverty eradication: the promise of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.”

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

Vice-Foreign Minister Qin Gang on March 22 summoned Nicolas Chapuis, the envoy of the European Union to China, to protest and denounce the EU’s decision to impose unilateral sanctions on China over the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang.

 

On behalf of the Chinese government, Qin also declared China’s countermeasures to the EU decision.

 

From: China Daily

 

 

Authorities in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have condemned sanctions announced on March 22 by the European Union, Canada and the United States.

 

A spokesperson for the Xinjiang regional government said the sanctions were based on lies and violated the human rights of the Uygurs and other ethnic groups in Xinjiang. He said the sanctions aimed to disrupt stability and development in the

region.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

Hungary finds the European Union (EU)’s sanctions on Chinese citizens to be meaningless, pretentious and harmful, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said on March 22 during a one-day meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

 

At the meeting, the Council of the European Union adopted unilateral sanctions on four Chinese individuals citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on March 23 adopted a China-sponsored resolution, calling on the states and other stakeholders to engage in constructive and genuine dialogue and cooperation in the field of human rights, based on universality, impartiality, objectivity, indivisibility, non-selectivity, nonpoliticization, equality and mutual respect.

 

The resolution, titled “Promoting Mutually Beneficial Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights,” also calls upon all states to uphold multilateralism and encourages other stakeholders, including international, regional and non-governmental organizations, to contribute actively to this endeavor.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

A virtual exhibition on the anti-poverty achievements made by China and Uzbekistan has opened here to share Chinese experience in eradicating poverty.

 

The main goal of the exhibition, which is themed “Striving for a Better Life—Achievements of China and Uzbekistan in Poverty Reduction,” is to promote cooperation between the two countries in the fight against poverty, organizers of the event said on March 24 during the opening ceremony.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China opposes any external forces interfering in China’s internal affairs, including Xinjiang affairs, and opposes sanctions against relevant Chinese entities and individuals based on lies and false information in excuse of the “Xinjiang human rights issues,” China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on March 25.

 

From: CGTN

 

 

Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region will keep pace with other parts of the country in completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarking on a new journey toward socialist modernization, said Qizhala, chairman of the regional government.

 

Qizhala made the remarks on March 27 in a televised speech marking the 62nd anniversary of Tibet’s democratic reform.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China has shared its experiences with Laos on poverty alleviation as construction has begun here for China-aided rural poverty alleviation facilities.

 

Jiang Zaidong, Chinese ambassador to Laos, introduced the situation of China’s poverty alleviation at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Lao capital Vientiane on March 30, noting that China has been actively participating in global poverty reduction efforts.

 

From: Xinhua

 

 

China’s central government has approved a fiscal budget of 156.1 billion yuan (about 23.75 billion U.S. dollars) to facilitate the synergy of consolidating poverty alleviation outcomes and promoting rural vitalization in 2021, according to the country’s finance ministry on March 31.

 

The funds are 10 billion yuan more than those allocated for poverty alleviation purposes last year, according to the ministry.

 

From: Xinhua