- Title: New UN boss, in China, calls for human rights respect
- Date: 28th November 2016
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (NOVEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL-DESIGNATE ANTONIO GUTERRES WALKING TO CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER WANG YI, SHAKING HANDS, POSING FOR PHOTOS AND WALKING AWAY MEETING IN PROGRESS WANG SPEAKING BESIDE A CHINESE OFFICIAL GUTERRES SEATED WANG SPEAKING WHILE OTHER CHINESE OFFICIALS SEATED GUTERRES SPEAKING WANG AND OTHER CHINESE OFFICIALS LISTENING GUTERRES SPEAKING WHILE OTHER U.N. OFFICIALS TAKING NOTES MEETING IN PROGRESS GUTERRES AND WANG WALKING TO PODIUMS MEDIA SEATED WHILE TRANSLATOR SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL-DESIGNATE ANTONIO GUTERRES SAYING: "In a world torn by war, a United Nations able to enhance diplomacy for peace. In a world where globalisation has left so many people behind to use the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement to make sure that we have development worldwide that is both sustainable and inclusive leaving no one behind. And at the same time, in a world where so many rights are not respected, to make sure that there is an effective combination in human rights, of the civil and political rights and economic and social rights in a balanced way." WANG LISTENING WHILE MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, WANG YI, SAYING: "The United Nations should further carry forward fairness and justice. The U.N. is a place to speak rightly and do things impartially. Fairness and justice are core in the United Nations Charter. Whether handling hot issues or developing international relations, the U.N. should practise and promote principles in the Charter including sovereign equality, not interfering in internal affairs and resolving disputes peacefully, stick to the justice for all, regardless of big or small countries, and safeguard global fairness and justice. Just now during the meeting, Mr. Guterres as Secretary-General-designate specially emphasized this point to me, and we expressed our complete agreement on this." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL-DESIGNATE ANTONIO GUTERRES SAYING: "China being today a fantastic power house in the economy, in the global economy. China needs peace and security and China can be very important, honest broker trying to bring together some that are involved in conflicts or supporting those conflicts in different parts of the world. China can play a very important role in the diplomacy for peace that the world badly needs today." WANG AND GUTERRES WALKING TOWARDS EACH OTHER, SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING / MEDIA TAKING PHOTOS
- Embargoed: 13th December 2016 10:19
- Keywords: China UN Antonio Guterres Human rights
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ACY7UV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.N. secretary general designate Antonio Guterres called for the respect of human rights as he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Monday (November 28).
Guterres is on a two day visit to China, his first since being appointed in October.
China's leadership has overseen a sweeping crackdown on activists since President Xi Jinping took power, including detaining or imprisoning dozens of rights lawyers in what the government says is the targeting of criminal acts.
China frequently clashes with U.N. bodies and envoys over the issue of human rights, and was angered last month when the U.N. human rights chief spoke at an award ceremony for a prominent Chinese academic jailed for life two years ago.
While in China in July, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on China to respect civil society.
Speaking to reporters with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi standing at his side, Guterres emphasised the need to respect human rights globally.
"In a world torn by war, a United Nations able to enhance diplomacy for peace. In a world where globalisation has left so many people behind to use the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement to make sure that we have development worldwide that is both sustainable and inclusive leaving no one behind. And at the same time, in a world where so many rights are not respected, to make sure that there is an effective combination in human rights, of the civil and political rights and economic and social rights in a balanced way," Guterres said, without specifically mentioning China.
Wang made no mention of human rights in his comments, but said he thought Guterres would make an outstanding secretary general and said the world had great expectations for the United Nations.
"The United Nations should further carry forward fairness and justice. The U.N. is a place to speak rightly and do things impartially. Fairness and justice are core in the United Nations Charter. Whether handling hot issues or developing international relations, the U.N. should practise and promote principles in the Charter including sovereign equality, not interfering in internal affairs and resolving disputes peacefully, stick to the justice for all, regardless of big or small countries, and safeguard global fairness and justice. Just now during the meeting, Mr. Guterres as Secretary-General-designate specially emphasized this point to me, and we expressed our complete agreement on this," Wang said.
Guterres, who assumes his role on January 1, praised China's role in UN peacekeeping missions and hot spot diplomacy.
"China being today a fantastic power house in the economy, in the global economy. China needs peace and security and China can be very important, honest broker trying to bring together some that are involved in conflicts or supporting those conflicts in different parts of the world. China can play a very important role in the diplomacy for peace that the world badly needs today," he said.
While China has been deeply involved in efforts to resolve the Iran and North Korea nuclear issues, and in African problems like South Sudan, it is also stretching its wings to try and help bring peace in the Middle East. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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