Diplomat highlights China's leapfrog achievements in rights to survival, development in past 70 yrs

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 24, 2019 -- A Chinese envoy said here Tuesday that the past seven decades has witnessed China's leapfrog achievements in rights to survival and development.

"The Chinese people have turned a poor country into the world's second largest economy, the largest manufacturer and the largest trader in goods," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, also known as the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee.

"More than 800 million people are lifted out of poverty, nearly 400 million become middle-income earners. These development achievements are the marvel of the world. The past seven decades witnessed balanced and sufficient development in both categories of human rights," said the envoy.

"China has put in place a sound legal system protecting human rights, and established the world's largest democratic election system at the primary level," Zhang said.

The past seven decades witnessed China's important contribution to the global cause of human rights, Zhang said, citing examples of China's development assistance of nearly 400 billion yuan (about 56 billion U.S. dollars) to more than 160 countries and international organizations, as well as over 550 cooperation outcomes delivered under the Belt and Road Initiative.

"It has been fully proved that the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics fits China's national conditions and is good for world peace and prosperity," he said. "China will unswervingly follow this path."

Zhang stressed that the Chinese people are in a consistent pursuit of development and human rights. "No matter how the world may change, their desire for a better life will not change; their conviction in the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics will not change; and their resolve to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests will not change."

"With socialism with Chinese characteristics entering a new era, China will embrace a more robust economy, greater social harmony, a more sound democracy, fuller rule of law and comprehensive improvement of human rights," he added.