China-Germany Human Rights Development Forum held in Beijing

China

China-Germany Human Rights Development Forum held in Beijing

2025-12-12 16:37 Last Updated At：22:17

The 2025 China-Germany Human Rights Development Forum was held in Beijing on Thursday, bringing together 30 experts from both countries to discuss aligning international development cooperation with humanitarian assistance either online or in person.

Amid rising global challenges, participants called for genuine multilateralism and development-driven solutions to address the root causes of crises and strengthen global human rights governance.

"The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 shows that 800 million people around the world still live in extreme poverty, and billions of people are in want of safe drinking water and hygiene services. The advancement of human rights worldwide faces severe challenges, urgently requiring the international community to unite in addressing them. As the world's second and third largest economies and major countries in the world, China and Germany should all the more shoulder greater responsibilities," said Li Hongkui, vice chairman and secretary general of China Foundation for Human Rights Development.

Herta Daubler-Gmelin, former German minister of justice, attended the forum via video link.

Humanitarian aid and development cooperation are two pillars of global solidarity, she said, adding that development assistance strengthens resilience and capacity in recipient countries.

The forum was hosted by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the Germany Friedrich Albert Foundation.

Since launching dialog in 1999, the two institutions have built a long-term partnership, jointly hosting multiple forums to deepen mutual understanding and people-to-people exchanges.

British nationals involved in military operations against Russia: Lavrov

The British government can no longer conceal the fact that British soldiers are involved in war against Russia, with at least 100 British nationals currently fighting Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

Many Western warmongers fantasize about deploying their troops to Ukraine under the guise of "peacekeepers," but for Russia, these so-called "peacekeepers" should become legitimate military targets, Lavrov said.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on the same day that Britain has publicly confirmed the death of its serviceman in Ukraine, but contrary to British media reports, it was not the first death of a British soldier in Ukraine.

A member of the British armed forces died in a tragic accident in Ukraine on Tuesday morning while observing the testing of a new defensive capability, Britain's Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The Times reported that British special forces are currently conducting covert operations in Ukraine, including assisting in training Ukrainian military personnel to use specific equipment. Additionally, a small number of medical personnel have been deployed to Ukraine, while other personnel provide security for British diplomatic missions in the country.