On this blog I have often been critical of China’s human rights theory and practice. As Mao use to say, practice is the sole criterion of truth. Earlier I translated an article by a Chinese critique of the Chinese Communist Party’s approach to human rights? See the translation at elsewhere on the translation blog at The Eunuch’s Big Cock – Whole Process Democracy Whether or not one has a high opinion of Chinese human rights policies and practices, it is important to understand how it is presented internally so as to be well-equipped to discuss it with Chinese people and to be a able to perceive possible changes in Chinese policy that may or many not be announced explicitly.

A significant hint may be something new or it may be something tht people stop talking about. I found the best way to understand these things is to read about them and then discuss them with knowledgeable Chinese people and perhaps bouncing off one’s preliminary understandings of Chinese policy. I was able to often do that during my ten years working in China as a U.S. diplomat. As contacts with China become less dense due to a period of increasingly difficult international relations as well as the travel restrictions imposed by pandemic vigilance, this looking for hints of change becomes a more difficult, mostly textual exercise. Computer textual analysis and online engagement with Chinese experts help. The long conversations I had over dinner with a wide range of Chinese friends and acquaintances, sometimes businesspeople, sometimes officials at various levels all around China, was certainly a most enjoyable way to pick up on some of these subtleties.

Here Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping portrays Chinese Communist Party’s human rights achievements since 1949 as excellent although he says the Party needs to do still better. Xi’s talk took place at a collective study session of China’s Politburo. The Politburo holds several study sessions on a wide variety of topics every years. Sometimes the study sessions are led by a prominent Chinese academic.

In the translation I have broken up some very long sentences and added bullet points for the sake of readability. You would not want to be one of those comrades who get the reputation for falling asleep at study sessions!

I was inspired by Law Professor Herny Gao’s discussion on Twitter of Xi’s talk which appeared in the People’s Daily of February 27? 2022.

Xi Jinping at Politburo Study Session on Human Rights in China

At 37th Politburo Collective Study, Xi Jinping stressed promoting  human rights development in China

People’s Daily (February 27, 2022, p. 01)

 The Chinese Communist Party consistently respects and protects human rights. The Party’s century-long history of struggle was marked by the Party’s unremitting efforts to unite and lead the people in fighting for human rights, respecting human rights, safeguarding and further developing human rights. As China begins its new journey of building a modern socialist country and marching toward the second of the Two Centenary Goals,  we should deeply understand the importance and urgency of doing a good job in human rights, unswervingly following the path of human rights development in China. We need to pay more attention to respecting and protecting human rights, and better promote the development of human rights in China

 Since the 18th Party Congress, we have insisted on respecting and protecting human rights as an important task in the governance of the country and promoted the historic achievements of China’s human rights cause.

• We have achieved the first Centenary Goal, having built a moderately prosperous society, and historically solved the problem of absolute poverty, laying a more solid material foundation for the development of China’s human rights. We have continued to develop the whole process of people’s democracy, promoted the protection of human rights under the rule of law, resolutely safeguarded social justice, and the people have enjoyed broader, fuller and more comprehensive democratic rights.
• We have promoted fuller and higher-quality employment, built the world’s largest education system, social security system, and health care system, and vigorously improved the quality of people’s living environment. We have adhered to the supremacy of the people and their life, responded vigorously to the novel coronavirus pneumonia pandemic, and protected the lives and health of the people to the fullest extent possible.
• We fully implement the Party’s ethnic and religious policies, insist on the equality of all ethnic groups, respect the religious beliefs of the masses, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups.
• We have pushed forward the reform of the judicial system, strengthened the construction of Safe China and Rule of Law China, carried out in-depth education and rectification of the political and legal teams, carried out comprehensive operations to eliminate black and evil, cracked down on all kinds of illegal crimes, maintained long-term social stability, and effectively protected the lives and property of the people.

China is the only major power in the world that has consistently formulated and implemented four phases of national human rights action plans. We have actively participated in global human rights governance and made Chinese contributions and provided Chinese solutions for the development of the world’s human rights cause

In the practice of promoting the development of China’s human rights cause, we have combined the Marxist view of human rights with the specific reality of China and the excellent Chinese traditional culture, summarized the successful experience of our Party in uniting and leading the people to respect and protect human rights, and borrowed the fruits of the excellent civilization of mankind to come out with a path of human rights development that is in line with the trend of the times and suitable for our national conditions.

• First, it adheres to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.
• Second, adhere to respect for the main position of the people.
• Third, it insists on starting from the actual situation in China.
• Fourth, it insists on the right to survival and development as the first and foremost basic human rights.
• Fifth, it insists on protecting human rights in accordance with the law.
• Sixth, insist on active participation in global human rights governance

To promote the comprehensive development of human rights, adhere to China’s human rights development path, respond to people’s expectations for a high-quality and better life, continuously meet the growing and multifaceted needs of the people for rights, promote economic development, democracy and the rule of law, ideology and culture, fairness and justice, social governance, environmental protection and other construction in an integrated manner, do a good job in employment, income distribution, education, social security, medical care, housing, pensions, child support and other aspects. We will work to enhance the level of human rights protection in all aspects in the coordinated development of material, political, spiritual, social and ecological civilizations.

Human rights are historical, concrete and realistic, and cannot be talked about in isolation from the social and political conditions and historical and cultural traditions of different countries. In evaluating the human rights situation in a particular country, we cannot measure human rights  by the standards of other countries, let alone engage in double standards, or even use human rights as a political tool to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. We must grasp the strategic initiative, focus on telling China’s own human rights story, use figurative and concrete expressions, and enhance the attractiveness, inspirational power and influence of the contemporary Chinese view of human rights

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — The Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee held its 37th collective study on China’s human rights development path in the afternoon of Feb. 25. While presiding over the study, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CCP Central Committee, stressed that it is the unremitting pursuit of the Chinese Communists to respect and protect human rights. The century-long history of the Party’s struggle runs through the Party’s unremitting efforts to unite and lead the people to fight for human rights, respect human rights, protect human rights and develop human rights. As China begins a new journey of building a modern socialist country and marching towards the second century goal, we should deeply understand the importance and urgency of doing a good job in human rights, unswervingly follow the path of human rights development in China, pay more attention to respecting and protecting human rights, and better promote the development of human rights in China.

Comrade Lu Guangjin, Secretary General of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, gave a lecture on this issue and put forward suggestions for work. Comrades of the Central Political Bureau listened carefully to his explanation and held discussions.

Xi Jinping made an important speech while presiding over the study. He stressed that it is the unremitting pursuit of the Chinese Communists to respect and protect human rights. Since its establishment, our Party has held high the banner of “fighting for democracy and human rights” and clearly declared its advocacy of saving the country and people and fighting for human rights. Throughout the periods of the New Democratic Revolution, socialist revolution and construction, and reform and opening-up and socialist modernization, the Party has firmly grasped the vocation it set out from seeking the happiness of the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese Communist Party has led the people to achieve great victories in revolution, construction, and reform, and the Chinese people have become the masters of the country, society, and their own destiny. The guarantee of the Chinese people’s right to survival, development and all other basic rights has continued to move forward.

Xi Jinping pointed out that since the 18th Party Congress, we have insisted on making respect for and protection of human rights an important task in the governance of the country and promoted the historic achievements of China’s human rights cause.

• We have achieved the first 100-year goal, built a moderately prosperous society, and historically solved the problem of absolute poverty, laying a more solid material foundation for the development of China’s human rights cause.
• We have continued to develop the whole process of people’s democracy, promoted the protection of human rights under the rule of law, resolutely safeguarded social justice, and the people have enjoyed broader, fuller and more comprehensive democratic rights.
• We have promoted fuller and higher-quality employment, built the world’s largest education system, social security system, and health care system, and vigorously improved the quality of people’s living environment.
• We have adhered to the supremacy of the people and life, responded vigorously to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and protected the lives and health of the people to the maximum extent possible.
• We fully implement the Party’s ethnic and religious policies, insist on the equality of all ethnic groups, respect the religious beliefs of the masses, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups.
• We have pushed forward the reform of the judicial system, strengthened the construction of Safe China and Rule of Law China, carried out in-depth education and rectification of the political and legal teams, carried out comprehensive operations to eliminate black and evil, cracked down on all kinds of illegal crimes, maintained long-term social stability, and effectively protected the lives and property of the people. China is the only major power in the world that has consistently formulated and implemented four phases of national human rights action plans. We have actively participated in global human rights governance and made Chinese contributions and provided Chinese solutions for the development of human rights in the world.

Xi Jinping stressed that in the practice of promoting the development of China’s human rights cause, we have combined the Marxist concept of human rights with China’s specific reality and with the excellent Chinese traditional culture, summarized the successful experience of our Party in uniting and leading the people to respect and protect human rights, and borrowed from the excellent achievements of human civilization to come out with a human rights development path that is in line with the trend of the times and suitable for our national conditions.

• First, we adhere to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The leadership of the CCP and China’s socialist system determines the socialist nature of China’s human rights cause, determines that we can ensure that the people are the masters in their own house, adhere to the equal sharing of human rights, promote the comprehensive development of all types of human rights, and constantly realize, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of the broadest number of people.
• Second, we insist on respecting the main position of the people. The people’s nature is the most distinctive feature of China’s human rights development path. We guarantee the democratic rights of the people, fully stimulate the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of the general public, so that the people become the main participants, promoters and beneficiaries of the development of the cause of human rights, and effectively promote the comprehensive development of human beings and the common prosperity of all people to achieve more obvious and substantial progress.
• Third, we insist on starting from the actual situation in China. We combine the principle of universality of human rights with China’s reality, promote the development of human rights from our national conditions and people’s requirements, and ensure that people enjoy a wide range of full, real, concrete and effective human rights in accordance with the law.
• Fourth, we insist on the right to survival and development as the primary basic human rights. Survival is the basis for the enjoyment of all human rights, and the people’s happy life is the greatest human right. We implement the new development concept completely, accurately and comprehensively, adhere to the people-centered development ideology, adhere to the development for the people, development relies on the people, the fruits of development shared by the people, and strive to achieve higher quality, more efficient, more equitable, more sustainable and safer development, in the development of the majority of the people’s sense of access, happiness and security more abundant, more secure and more sustainable.
• Fifth, adhere to the protection of human rights in accordance with the law. We insist that everyone is equal before the law, respect and protect human rights throughout all aspects of legislation, law enforcement, justice and law-abiding, speed up the improvement of the legal system of fair rights, fair opportunities and fair rules, protect citizens’ personal rights, property rights and personality rights, protect citizens’ basic political rights such as participation in democratic elections, democratic consultation, democratic decision-making, democratic management and democratic supervision, protect citizens’ economic, cultural, social and We will continue to improve the level of protection of human rights under the rule of law.
• Sixth, we insist on actively participating in global human rights governance. We promote the common values of all mankind, practice genuine multilateralism, actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system, including human rights, and promote the building of a community of human destiny.

The six articles above characterize the main features of China’s human rights development and the valuable experience we have gained in the practice of promoting China’s human rights cause. They should always be adhered to and of course will also be adjusted in the light of new experiences.

Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to promote the comprehensive development of the cause of human rights, adhere to China’s human rights development path, respond to people’s expectations for a high-quality and better life, continuously meet the growing multifaceted needs of the people’s rights, promote economic development, democracy and rule of law, ideology and culture, equity and justice, social governance, environmental protection and other construction in an integrated manner, and do a good job in employment, income distribution, education, social security, medical care, housing, pension, and In the coordinated development of material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization and ecological civilization, the level of human rights protection should be enhanced in all aspects.

Xi Jinping stressed the need to strengthen the protection of human rights under the rule of law, deepen reform in the field of the rule of law, improve the mechanism for the protection of human rights under the rule of law, achieve respect for and protection of human rights in the legislation, law enforcement, justice, law-abiding the whole chain, the whole process, all-round coverage, so that the people in every legal system, every law enforcement decision, every judicial case are felt in the fairness and justice. We must systematically study and plan and solve the outstanding problems in the field of the rule of law that are strongly reflected by the people, treat the people’s demands fairly according to the law, and resolutely put an end to judicial injustice that causes harm to the feelings of the people and damages the rights and interests of the people. All violations of the legitimate rights of the masses, all indifferent to the issue of violations of the rights and interests of the masses, ignoring the phenomenon, must be seriously investigated and dealt with in accordance with discipline and law, resolutely pursue responsibility.

Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to promote the correct concept of human rights, widely carry out human rights publicity and knowledge, and create a good atmosphere of respect and protection of human rights. Education on human rights should be carried out among all people, especially the youth, and education on the Marxist view of human rights and the contemporary Chinese view of human rights should be incorporated into the national education system. Training on human rights knowledge should be strengthened for public officials, especially grassroots public officials. The advantages of group organizations should be brought into play to promote better protection of the rights and interests of specific groups such as women and children, the elderly and the disabled. We should rely on the vivid practice of the development of China’s human rights cause, refine original concepts, and develop China’s human rights discipline system, academic system and discourse system. We should strengthen the construction of human rights think tanks and human rights research bases, and make efforts to cultivate a group of high-end human rights experts who are solid in theory, superb in academics, familiar with international rules, and can tell the story of human rights in China.

Xi Jinping stressed the need to actively promote global human rights governance, carry forward the common values of all mankind, adhere to the concepts of equality and mutual trust, tolerance and mutual appreciation, win-win cooperation and common development, and promote global human rights governance in a more fair, just, reasonable and inclusive direction. We should actively participate in the United Nations human rights affairs, and play a constructive role in international human rights exchanges and cooperation with other countries, especially developing countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that human rights are historical, concrete and realistic, and one cannot talk about human rights in isolation from the socio-political conditions and historical and cultural traditions of different countries. To evaluate whether a country has human rights, it cannot be measured by the standards of other countries, let alone engage in double standards, or even use human rights as a political tool to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. We should grasp the strategic initiative, focus on telling the story of human rights in China, use visual and concrete expressions, and enhance the attractiveness, infectiousness and influence of the contemporary Chinese view of human rights.

Xi Jinping stressed that party committees (party groups) at all levels should take up the historical responsibility to promote the development of China’s human rights cause, strengthen organizational leadership, take the initiative to take charge and effectively implement the national human rights action plan. Cadres at all levels, especially leading cadres, should consciously study the Marxist concept of human rights, the contemporary Chinese concept of human rights, raise awareness, enhance self-confidence, and take the initiative to do a good job of respecting and protecting human rights. All regions, departments and industries should enhance the awareness of respecting and safeguarding human rights, and form a synergy to promote the development of human rights in China.

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2022: Xi Jinping at Politburo Study Session on Human Rights in China