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Statement by Counsellor YAO Shaojun of the Chinese Delegation during the Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights at the Third Committee of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly

2017-10-23 06:17

Mr. Chairman,

Poverty reduction action is the hallmark of the progress in advancing human rights in China. Proceeding from the prevailing circumstances of the country, the Chinese government prioritizes the rights to survival and to development. It dedicates itself to reducing and alleviating poverty, improving and securing livelihoods, and advancing various social causes so as to enable all people to benefit more from development gains in a fair manner, and to safeguard their right to equal participation and development.

China has always been actively advocating poverty reduction in the whole world. Since the reform and opening-up started, China has achieved ¡°the fastest large scale poverty reduction in the record of human history¡±, with an accumulated total of 700 million people out of poverty which accounts for over 70% of the world¡¯s total, thus contributing significantly to the international efforts to reduce poverty and promote human rights. China has committed to lifting by 2020 all the impoverished rural population out of poverty, which is both a sine qua non for comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society and an important step in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China will continue to fulfill its international obligations commensurate with its stage and level of development, in a bid to push forward the global efforts for poverty reduction and human rights promotion.

Mr. Chairman,

As UN experts, special rapporteurs should act in compliance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and in keeping with the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-Holders, strictly follow their terms of reference, perform their duties in an objective and equitable manner and conduct dialogue and cooperation with national governments with a constructive attitude.

During the visit of the Special Rapporteur last year, China tried to the extent possible to accommodate his meetings requests, on top of a full programme of field visits. That notwithstanding, the Special Rapporteur claimed repeatedly that his activities were curtailed by the Chinese government. What¡¯s more, he even claimed that some of the people who had contacts with him were subjected to ¡°persecution and retaliation¡±. China firmly rejects all these accusations because they run counter to facts. China urges the Special Rapporteur to perform his duties in strict compliance with the Code of Conduct and the mandate of the Human Rights Council, respect the arrangements made by the host country during country visits, renounce imposing pressure in public and instead, carry out constructive dialogue and cooperation with host countries.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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