China's vision for equitable global human rights governance

ByDa Lu

The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Geopolitical conflicts have been flaring up, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, and the UN-centered global human rights governance system is facing unprecedented challenges. Certain countries are politicizing, instrumentalizing and weaponizing human rights, interfering in other nations' internal affairs; some have withdrawn from international treaties and organizations, reducing multilateral human rights institutions to nominal bodies.

As international rules are being applied selectively by some and consensus is undermined by double standard, global human rights governance is mired in a crisis of trust and misplaced priorities. In this situation, who gets to define human rights? What path should be followed to realize them?

China's approach: Three pillars to reshape human rights governance

Three years ago, at the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance held in Beijing in 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter, advocating three key pillars: safeguarding human rights with security, promoting human rights with development and advancing human rights with cooperation. These are no mere slogan; they form a systematic framework to address the prevailing global challenges.

"Safeguarding human rights with security" underscores respect for every country's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the implementation of the Global Security Initiative (GSI) to foster a peaceful environment essential for the realization of human rights. Amid rampant warfare and mass refugee crises, no human right can be guaranteed without peace.

"Promoting human rights through development" highlights inclusive, universally beneficial and sustainable development and the importance of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), which advocates people of all countries should enjoy human rights equitably via modernization paths tailored to their national realities.

"Advancing human rights through cooperation" calls for mutual respect and equal-footed engagement and the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) to forge consensus through dialogue.

Breaking free from Western dogma that prioritizes human rights over development and sovereignty, this framework anchors human rights realization in specific historical contexts and practical realities.

Putting ideas into practice: Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation

China has been translating its vision into tangible actions. The China-Laos Railway stands as a landmark of hard infrastructure connectivity. Stretching over 1,000 kilometers, it has transformed Laos from a landlocked nation into a land-linked hub. As of June 1, the railway had made over 73 million passenger trips and transported more than 84 million tons of goods, with cross-border commodity varieties jumping from merely a dozen at its launch to over 3,800.

Economically, freight costs from Kunming in south China to Laos' capital city Vientiane have dropped by 40% to 50%, while the export value of China's new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products surged more than tenfold year on year. The railway, more than a transportation artery, serves as a golden corridor securing people's right to development.

Chinese agricultural technology "Juncao," that utilizes fast-growing, high-protein grass to cultivate edible and medicinal mushrooms, exemplifies soft capacity building pioneered by China that has been introduced in over 100 countries. In Zimbabwe, for example, the technology has expanded across nine provinces since it was launched last year. Hailed locally as the "miracle grass," Juncao has spawned entire industries and boosted livelihoods, proving the right to development translates into accessible technologies, employable skills and dignified jobs.

Tahiya Bauso Massawe, a Tanzanian dairy farmer, carries freshly harvested Juncao grass in Zanzibar, Tanzania, May 12, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]

Forging broader consensus: The 2026 forum and a new vision

Since Xi advocated the three pillars in 2023, global human rights governance is heading toward another pivotal juncture with the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance convening in Beijing from June 11 to 12. A core strategic objective of the 2026 edition is to push back against unilateralism and the weaponization of human rights by amplifying voices from around the world and affirming that no single country or bloc holds exclusive rights to define human rights.

While certain nations pose as self-proclaimed human rights guardians and lecture others, the forum brings together a wide range of stakeholders committed to global human rights governance to discuss, on an equal footing, how to operationalize the GDI, the GSI, the GCI and Global Governance Initiative into actionable, measurable and replicable cooperative projects.

The China-initiated Group of Friends of Global Governance, which has more than 60 member states, has been established at the UN offices in New York, Geneva and Vienna to advance UN reform and boost the representation of developing countries. In recent years, China has evolved from a participant to an agenda-setter and consensus-builder in global human rights governance.

From the China-Laos Railway to Juncao farms in Zimbabwe, to the high-level forum in Beijing, China's endeavors to build a new global human rights governance platform speak volumes: Security underpins the bottom line of human rights; development unlocks opportunities for their advancement and cooperation unites global consensus.

This framework, more than a Chinese solution, embodies the shared aspiration of all nations for a fair, inclusive and effective human rights governance architecture.

Da Lu, a special commentator for CGTN, is the director of the Country Studies Center, Institute of Human Rights, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, and an associate professor at the center.