China supports the creation of a UN Human Rights Council, and strengthening the UN's role in the field of human rights, Zhang Yishan, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said on Wednesday.
 
Addressing the UN General Assembly after the adoption of the resolution to set up the new UN Human Rights Council, Zhang said that its creation marks a historic moment.
 
"The international community and people all over the world have great expectations of the council," he said. "They hope that the council will play its due role in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms on a global level."
 
Zhang highlighted the draft resolution's emphasis on civil, political, economic, social, cultural and the right to development being interlinked and equally important.
 
He stressed that it indicates that the human rights issue should be dealt with impartially to avoid double standards and politicization, and promote genuine interactive dialogue and cooperation.
 
"The above principles shall become the guidelines for the future work of the council so as to avoid the reoccurrence of political confrontation at the Commission on Human Rights," Zhang declared.
 
However, he also made it clear that the draft resolution has failed to fully reflect all the concerns of many developing countries, including China.
 
"First, it does not provide effective guarantees against political confrontation, which was a major disadvantage of the Commission on Human Rights," Zhang noted.
 
"Second, 'the universal periodic review' to be developed by the council could overlap with the work of human rights treaty bodies and other special mechanisms, which could increase the reporting burdens of developing countries.
 
"Third, according to our understanding, recommendations by the council are limited to the General Assembly."
 
Zhang also promised that China is ready to adopt an active and open attitude, to cooperate closely with all other parties, and play an active part in the work of the council.
 
(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)