Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Wednesday urged "relevant countries" to fully implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, or DDPA, during a high-level meeting to commemorate a landmark anti-racism conference that took place 20 years ago.
"It is a shame that the United States and a few other Western countries chose to openly boycott and be absent from this important meeting. This only raises more doubts over their sincerity in fighting racism and their willingness to participate in international anti-racism cooperation," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN.
It is a shame that the United States and a few other Western countries chose to openly boycott and be absent from this important meeting
Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN
He called on those countries to "face up to the reality, heed the voice of the international community and do some serious soul-searching".
"They should take concrete measures to fully and effectively implement the DDPA, prohibit the spread and provocation of racist rhetoric, fundamentally change the livelihoods of ethnic minorities for the better, and earnestly protect everybody's human rights, including those of ethnic minorities, all in an effort to build a world of equality for all," the ambassador said.
Zhang's remarks came as the UN General Assembly held a high-level meeting to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the declaration's adoption.
The event on Wednesday was part of a series of international conferences during the UN's annual gathering of world leaders. It was attended by the UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the General Assembly; and leaders from more than 60 countries. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also addressed the meeting.
Wang, who spoke via video, called the DDPA "a banner for the global movement against racism and a shared commitment of all countries".
Diplomats adopted the DDPA at the 2001 World Conference against Racism held in the city of Durban in South Africa. Though the UN calls the document a "blueprint for action to fight racism", the 2001 conference was criticized by Western governments for allegedly promoting anti-Semitism.
The DDPA sent "a powerful message of eliminating racism". However, Zhang said that despite the shattering of apartheid, racism still haunts the world and it is getting worse.
Zhang said that strengthening exchanges between different races and cultures is "much needed" to foster a social environment free from discrimination. It is also necessary to ensure the rights to development for all to "break the vicious cycle between social inequality and racism".
All participants at the meeting agreed that racism is a deep-rooted global problem left over from history, which has caused an array of issues including inequality, oppression and marginalization.
They called on the international community to take this meeting as an opportunity to "fully and effectively implement" the DDPA to wipe out racism and racial discrimination completely.
teresaliu@chinadailyusa.com