Guests, ladies and gentlemen,

The Chinese government has placed a high priority on international exchanges and cooperation with regard to human rights. It is willing to learn from others' strengths to offset its own weaknesses on the basis of full equality and mutual respect while participating fully in global efforts to advance the sound development of international human rights. The Chinese government has put a premium on the active role that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has played in prompting the development of human rights across the globe. It also places great importance on cooperation and fully acknowledges the aims expressed in the declaration.

The Chinese government has acceded to 25 international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It has faithfully fulfilled the obligations set out by those conventions and submitted timely reports to the relevant bodies on how it implements the conventions. It has also established good working relationships with international human rights institutions, including the UN's Human Rights Council.

This forum offers a valuable platform for China to exchange views with other human rights institutions. I believe that this forum, which will cover a wide range of topics, can increase understanding and affinity between different cultures and can also substantially deepen the development of international human rights cooperation.

I wish the forum complete success!

Thank you.

(China Daily 09/22/2011 page8)