Chinese Ambassador Qiao Zonghuai has put forward proposals to the ongoing 57th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights for it to realize a fair and effective promotion and protection of human rights.

Speaking to the session in Geneva Tuesday, Qiao urged on the commission to advocate the principle of equality, democracy and mutual respect.

For many years, he recalled, a few countries persisted in taking on the role of human rights "judges," patronizing and pointing their fingers at others while ignoring or turning away from their own problems.

This approach runs contrary to the spirit of the UN Charter and democratic principles and should thus be rejected by the commission.

The Chinese ambassador also appealed to the countries, which still cling to their "Cold War" mentality and confrontational approach, to give up politicization and confrontation so as to return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation.

He stressed that the commission should be a forum where the exchange of views and experiences on human rights issues can be carried out in a calm and dispassionate way.

The current session began on March 19 and will end on April 27.

(Xinhua 03/21/2001)