Chinese model offers innovative approach to human rights worthy of support: Albanian scholar

Placing the right to development at the core of human rights, China has offered the world a valuable alternative to Western prescriptions, an Albanian scholar said at the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance in Beijing.

Paskal Milo, head of the History Commission at the Academy of Sciences of Albania, highlighted the mould-breaking elements of China's human rights model when addressing the opening ceremony of the forum on Thursday.

"The Chinese option has some innovations compared with the Western option of the concept of human rights. And as many of you speaking until now have mentioned, I am supporting the concept of development as a core category of human rights," he said.

Milo said he expects future cooperation between Albania and China will help shape the future of human rights.

"Albania is a friendly country of [the] People's Republic of China. Historically, we have been close friends and we still are remaining very good friends of China. And in this respect, we are going to cooperate and to face a lot of changes, which are now in front of us and about the human rights issues, and especially for cooperating for peace, international security, and the stable future of the world," he said.

The two-day forum has gathered more than 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.

In addition to an opening ceremony and a plenary session, the event will also feature five sub-forums to discuss topics including the human rights implications of the Global Governance Initiative, safeguarding the right to development in the age of AI: Emerging challenges and opportunities, and modernization and people's free and comprehensive development, according to an earlier announcement of the China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China expresses deep condolences over the passing of Yohei Kono, former speaker of Japan's lower house who issued an apology over the country's wartime atrocities, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday.

Kono passed away at the age of 89 on June 8, Japanese media reported.

"We express deep condolences over the passing of Mr. Kono and extend sincere sympathies to his family. Mr. Kono was an old friend of the Chinese people. He upheld a correct view of history. In 1993, as Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, he issued an official statement on the comfort women issue, acknowledging the responsibility of the Japanese government and expressing remorse and apology. The statement continues to have a positive impact to this day," said Lin at a regular news briefing in Beijing.