A reader's forum on the book "Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights" was held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on Thursday.

Jiang Jianguo, executive vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, delivered a speech.

The following is the full text:

Speech at Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights Readers’ Forum

Jiang Jianguo 

Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Vice-Director of the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC and Executive Vice-President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies

(Addis Ababa, August 21, 2025)

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Good morning!

As the old Chinese saying goes, “Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.” We are very delighted to come to beautiful Addis Ababa of Ethiopia to attend the Readers’ Forum on Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights. On behalf of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all readers present here today.

Last September, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit was held in Beijing. At the summit, President Xi Jinping put forward six propositions for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, and announced 10 partnership actions to expand China-Africa cooperation over the next three years. These have pointed the way forward for China-Africa cooperation in the new era, providing guidance for promoting development through cooperation and advancing human rights through development. Hosting this Readers’ Forum today is a concrete step to implement the consensus reached by Chinese and African leaders at the Summit, carry forward its outcomes, and jointly open up new prospects for human rights development in China and Africa.

China is the world’s largest developing country, while Africa is home to the greatest number of developing countries. We are bound together by similar historical experiences and a common historic mission. In the spirit of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms that “all human beings ... should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”, we – as Chinese people – regard the people of Africa as our brothers. Together, China and Africa are not only steadfast partners in advancing the cause of human rights, but also a lively embodiment of this commitment.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held in 2012, President Xi Jinping has made a series of important statements on respecting and protecting human rights, driving historic progress in China’s human rights cause. In 2021, Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights was published, representing a landmark in the history of China’s human rights development. To date, the book has been published in 13 foreign languages, attracting readers from the global human rights community as well as political, academic, think tank, and media circles worldwide. With many readers here today, I would like to share with you some key points from President Xi’s book.

First, the people-centered philosophy of human rights development. President Xi has put forward inspiring concepts such as “staying committed to a people-centered approach”, “the greatest human right of all is the right to a happy life”, and “promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity”. These concepts, characterized by their lofty vision, rich connotations, and profound insights, are not only major original theoretical achievements forged in response to the needs of China’s national rejuvenation, but also important Chinese solutions to advancing global human rights. Through this book, we can appreciate President Xi’s care for the people and the world as a leader of a major party and country.

Second, the unswerving aspiration and mission regarding human rights. Safeguarding human life, value, and dignity, and realizing human rights for all are the unwavering goal of the CPC. President Xi has pointed out that “the Communist Party of China has always been committed to respecting and protecting human rights”. Since its founding, the CPC has taken seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation as its goals, and has continuously improved its capability to respect and protect the fundamental rights of the Chinese people. Through this book, we can understand the CPC’s century-long commitment and dedication to respecting and protecting human rights.

Third, the independent path of human rights development. President Xi has emphasized that “With different national conditions, countries should and can only explore suitable paths of human rights development in light of national realities and people’s needs.” China has advanced its human rights cause based on its own national conditions and the people’s needs. It has eradicated absolute poverty, established the world’s largest education, social security, and medical and health systems, and continuously developed whole-process people’s democracy. Through this book, we can understand why China’s path of human rights development works and how this cause continues to progress.

Fourth, the commitment to human rights governance through extensive consultation and joint contribution. President Xi has emphasized that China is willing to work with the rest of the international community to promote greater fairness, justice, reason and inclusiveness in global governance on human rights, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China firmly believes that only when people of all countries enjoy better lives can prosperity be sustained, security guaranteed, and human rights truly upheld. Currently, China has officially implemented a zero-tariff policy for 100% of taxable items from the least developed countries, striving to provide sincere and effective support for human rights development in developing countries.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Nowadays, the trends of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit are unstoppable. However, some countries are still obsessed with imposing their own models of human rights on others through war, colonization, plunder, and bullying. Such self-serving and blood-stained crimes brought untold suffering to developing countries, including China and African nations. We firmly oppose the practice of exercising hegemony in the name of human rights.

At present, the Global South is thriving and becoming a key force reshaping the world order, and China and African nations are playing a pivotal role in this. In recent years, we have witnessed African countries continuing to strengthen their independence and self-reliance amid a global shift toward multipolarity by independently exploring development paths suited to their national conditions and making encouraging achievements in human rights protection. With China and Africa standing side by side, the development and revitalization of the Global South will gain greater momentum, and international fairness and justice will be more firmly safeguarded.

We sincerely hope that this book will win us more friends across Africa, spark wider discussion, and provide useful references for African countries in advancing modernization, improving human rights governance, enhancing people’s wellbeing, and writing a new chapter in the high-quality development of human rights across the two regions.

I wish this Readers’ Forum complete success. Thank you.