Speakers at the ongoing 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance in Beijing have highlighted development as a key pillar of human rights, sharing perspectives on how economic and social progress can improve people's lives.
Paskal Milo, head of the History Commission at the Academy of Sciences of Albania, said that China has offered the world a valuable alternative to Western perspectives.
"China has emerged as a major advocate of an alternative model to Western liberal universalism. Rather than emphasizing individual political freedoms as the cornerstone of the human rights, China places at the center, as many other colleagues here mentioned strongly, the right to development, the social stability, the national sovereignty and the international economic cooperation. Of course there are differences between options. And as academicians and many other people who have the right to compare and to have some conclusions in doing this," said Milo.
Christian Arnaud Adjelou, president of the National Human Rights Council of Cote d'Ivoire, emphasized at the forum that environmental problems are not only about protecting nature but also impact human dignity and fundamental rights.
"Today environmental challenges are no longer confined to the preservation of nature alone. They directly affect human dignity and the enjoyment of fundamental rights. When a watercourse is polluted, the right to safe drinking water is threatened. When agricultural land is degraded, the right to food is undermined. With the impacts of climate change, weakened communities, the rights to health, education, housing and an adequate standard of living are placed at risk. Sustainable development therefore emerges as one of the most effective means of safeguarding the human rights of present generations while preserving those for future generations, it is founded upon an essential balance among economic growth, social justice and environmental protection," he said.
Xie Fuzhan, chairman of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, said that the world should promote inclusive economic globalization and fully respect each country's right to independently choose its own human rights development path.
"At the same time, we should also promote an inclusive and universally beneficial economic globalization, enabling more developing countries to share the opportunities and benefits created by scientific technological innovation and industrial transformation. We should work to gradually narrow the development gap between developed and developing countries and build an even stronger ladder for raising the level of human rights development across the globe. Given the diversity of civilization, differences in historical traditions, social system, developing past, development models, and stages of development, countries inevitably differ in their approaches to advance human rights. Therefore, we must fully respect the right of all countries to independently choose their own development paths and approaches to human rights development in light of their national circumstances, which is exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, draw upon the outstanding achievements of human civilization, foster broader consensus on human rights development," he said.
The 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance opened in Beijing on Thursday morning. More than 400 invited guests from nearly 100 countries as well as international and regional organizations, including the United Nations (UN), are attending the event, which runs through Friday.
Speakers share perspectives on how economic growth, social progress improve human rights outcomes
