The UN Human Rights Conference should be a place where the common problems of mankind are discussed and the human rights cause promoted. It is the common wish of mankind to push forward progress in human rights. However, the human rights concept is a developmental concept stemming from history. Human rights conditions vary due to the differences of individual countries in terms of economic development, social system, cultural tradition, historical background and value concepts. It is natural that disputes arise. The disputes can be handled through consultation and dialogue without some countries interfering in other countries‘ internal affairs. This has long been the consensus within the international community.
我認為,一個國家的人權狀況如何應該依據這個國家的普通老百姓能否享有政治權、經濟權、文化權、受教育權以及生存權來衡量。中國人民在中國人權狀況問題上最有發(fā)言權。中國作為一個發(fā)展中國家,其人權狀況有雙重含義:首先我們的人權狀況正在發(fā)展和改善。其次,正因為我們的人權狀況仍在發(fā)展過程中,因而有些問題的出現是不可避免的,需要得到改進。因為人權不完善,所以需要發(fā)展。
In my view, a country's human rights conditions should be estimated based on whether or not the general public of the country can enjoy political, economic, cultural, educational and subsistence rights. The Chinese people are most eligible to have a say in the issue regarding the human rights situation in China. As China is a developing country, its human rights situation has a two-fold meaning: Firstly, our human rights conditions are developing and improving; and secondly, as they are still in the process of development, some problems unavoidable exist and need improving. Because human rights are not perfect, they need to develop.
了解中國歷史的人都知道,中國目前的人權狀況是歷史上最好的。同過去相比,我們有充分的言論自由。有個海外朋友告訴我,他在訪問北京后發(fā)現那里的人敢說任何事。他們談論政府的政策,有表示贊同的,也有提出批評的。中國現在更加開放。當然,每個民族有自己的民族特點,這些特點應該受到別人的尊重。中華民族有自己的思維方式和生活方式,應該受到其他民族的尊重。
Anyone who knows about Chinese history believes that the current human rights situation in China is the best in history. Compared to the past, we are very free in speech. An overseas friend told me that after he visited Beijing he discovered that people there would dare say anything. They talked about the central government's policies, and praised or criticized them. China is now opening even wider. Of course, each nationality has its own national features which should be respected. The Chinese nation also has its own mode of thinking and life, which should be respected by other nations.
中國政府一直十分重視人權問題,并按普遍原則和具體國情為人權的改善付出了很大的努力。20年的改革開放大大改善了中國人民的物質生活。此外,隨著國家民主法治建設的日趨完善,中國人民在民主監(jiān)督、參政議政和宗教信仰等方面享有更多的政治權利。迄今為止,中國已加入了18項國際人權公約,其中包括《經濟、社會與文化權利國際公約》和《公民權利與政治權利國際公約》。中國將繼續(xù)努力促進人權的進步,并愿意為全球的人權事業(yè)作出應有的貢獻。
The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the issue of human rights and made great efforts in improving human rights according to the general principles and concrete national conditions. 20 years of reform and opening up have witnessed great improvement in the material life of the Chinese people. Moreover, with the increasing perfection of the nation's democratic and legal construction, they are enjoying more political rights in democratic supervision, participation in and discussion on politics and religious belief. China has so far signed 18 international agreements on human rights, including the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. China will continue to make efforts to promote progress in human rights, and is willing to make its due contribution to the cause of global human rights.