Pakistan on Friday strongly supported China's phenomenal achievements in all areas and defended its human rights record, helping in defeating a resolution against China at the 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Ambassador Shaukat Umer, Permanent Representative of Pakistan at UN, categorically rejected accusations of systematic human rights violation warranting a resolution against China and termed it a "deleterious development".
Commenting on the draft resolution against China, Umer said that promoting international co-operation is the foremost objective of the United Nations and its organs including this Commission.
He regretted that tabling a resolution against China had put this important principle into jeopardy as China has been co-operating with the international community for promotion and protection of human rights.
Elaborating further on China's commitment to promotion of human rights, he remarked that "China is party to almost all human rights instruments and today the Chinese people enjoy unprecedented freedom and personal rights."
He mentioned recent stipulations in the Constitution to protect private property and guarantee human rights and measures taken by the Chinese government for improvements in the social insurance system and safeguarding the rights of rural workers as other notable examples of China's commitment to human rights.
Umer highlighted that China, despite being subjected to the humiliation of colonialism and the material and intellectual exploitation which were its accompaniments, has made remarkable progress in all fields since its independence.
He said: "Today China leads the world in economic growth. China's total grain output has increased from 110 million tons in 1949 to nearly 550 million tons now. The infant morality rate, which was 200 in 1949 is now less than 30.
There is no child labour and Chinese women are among the most liberated in the world, working shoulder to shoulder with men, in bringing about the economic miracle that is the envy of the whole world. In the last two decades, 400 million Chinese have been lifted out of absolute poverty. This is more than the population of entire Europe.
He said that according to Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action all human rights are inter-dependent, inter-related and mutually reinforcing.
By this measure, Umer said, China's record for the promotion of human rights is phenomenal. Yet this record was being subjected to a resolution, which begs the question what material change has occurred in China to warrant this resolution.
The Chinese delegation moved a No-Action Motion against the consideration of the resolution. The No-Action Motion was adopted with 26 votes in favour, 16 against and 9 abstentions, resulting in rejection of the resolution.
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