By Prensa Latina,
Geneva : China passed on Monday its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), with recognition of its efforts in favor of development.UN to Adopt Cuba Human Rights Report
China was also target of questioning by the western bloc, some times politicized and out of proportion, as Chinese alternate Ambassador to the UN Li Baodong said, specially deploring Australia”s statements.
Baodong, accompanied by Beijing”s top government officials and representatives from Hong Kong and Macau, highlighted that the UPR is an opportunity for open exchange, and remarked on the commitment by his country to human rights.
“We thank the expressions of solidarity and the constructive atmosphere that have prevailed in this room. China has been hit hard by the international economic crisis, but no crisis will stop us from making progress in our social project,” he said.
A total of 115 delegations registered to speak about China”s report, but only half of them were able to do it.
Cuban ambassador to international authorities in Geneva Juan Antonio Fernandez praised the achievements by a country that he called exceptional and “worked the wonder of a booming power that has allowed the Chinese people enjoying welfare and prosperity.”
“They have taken millions of human beings out of poverty, hunger and recognized the essential rights of 1.1 billion people,” he said, and stated later that China is a State of solidarity and a friend of the Third World.
Great Britain, Germany, France, Canada, and especially the Czech Republic plus Australia, marked their speeches with the harsh criticism that that Beijing has had since before the Olympics.
However, the balance of suggestions and analysis was quite positive and besides Cuba, diplomats from India, Yemen, Jordan, Zimbabwe, Benin, Palestine, Indonesia, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, and others praised its results.
The main nuance of those who highlighted the role of China in the world was focused on the spirit of international cooperation and its significant development, taking into account the complexity of a multiethnic and pluricultural territory.