China's people-centered approach to green development worth studying: Nepali politician

By integrating environmental protection and human rights advancement, China offers the world a powerful model for pursuing green development and addressing climate change, a prominent Nepalese elected official said at the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance in Beijing on Friday.

Indira Rana, a Nepali Federal Parliament member and former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal, highlighted China's impressive achievements in both economic development and ecological conservation in her speech at the forum.

"I'm deeply honored to stand here today representing Nepal in a country, China, that has shown the world that rapid development and ecological civilization can, in fact, advance in tandem," she said.

Rana was among a group of international human rights experts who recently paid a visit to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a trip she said has enabled her to better understand China's people-centered approach to environmental protection.

"One key lesson is conservation must involve people. Visiting the national park in Chongqing and the wetland, it's amazing the way the Chinese are doing, and I learned a lot of things. So, I'll take that key insight back to my country," she said.

She also emphasized that climate change is a global emergency that goes beyond national borders, calling for international cooperation to address the challenge.

"Climate change is already having visible and dangerous effects, especially in the Himalayas. Melting ice caps, retreating glaciers and changing weather patterns are increasing the risks of floods, landslides and disasters that threaten lives and livelihoods. Nepal cannot solve such a challenge alone. The causes lie beyond our borders and require global institutions and governments to support Nepal in developing green energy and economy," Rana said.

The forum, running from Thursday to Friday, has gathered more than 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.

China will take all necessary measures to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and nationals against illegal U.S. sanctions, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Lin made the statement when asked to comment on U.S. Department of the Treasury's announcement of sanctions against nine individuals and entities from the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

"China firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or that are not authorized by the UN Security Council. We will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens," Lin said.