A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday underlined the significant role of peace and development in combating racism at a high-level meeting marking the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action in New York.
The Durban Declaration and Program of Action provides a global blueprint for the UN to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, and was adopted at the 2001 United Nations World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa.
Although not legally binding, the document outlines a comprehensive framework and practical measures and reflects the international community's firm commitment.
Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, addressed the meeting, saying that the Durban Declaration and Program of Action set an ambitious goal 25 years ago of eliminating all forms of racism.
Looking ahead, he called on the international community to uphold the spirit of the document, strengthen cooperation and work together to build a world of equality for all.
"Survival and personal security are the foundation for the enjoyment of all human rights. We must uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, persist in resolving international disputes and pressing issues through peaceful means, and prevent and combat racially or religiously motivated violence and hate crimes during conflict. We must accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development], reduce development inequalities within and among countries, ensure that ethnic minorities have equitable access to development opportunities and benefits, and promote social justice and inclusive development," Fu said.
Fu said diversity among civilizations drives human progress. While promoting humanity's common values, he called for exchanges, mutual learning, and coexistence among different races and civilizations. He urged efforts to prevent emerging technologies from fueling extremist ideologies, xenophobia and hate speech.
He then said China advocates stronger global governance in the fight against racism and calls for the comprehensive implementation of relevant international conventions and resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. He also called for concrete action to address historical injustices against Africa and opposed double standards in combating racism.
"China actively supports and participates in the international community's efforts to combat racism. We stand ready to continue working with all parties to reaffirm our firm commitment to the Durban Declaration and Program of Action and make continued progress toward the building of a community with a shared future for humanity," said Fu.
Chinese envoy stresses peace, development in global fight against racism at UN
