The Second Beijing Forum on Human Rights Opened in Beijing

Head of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, Luo Haocai, noted in discussions that development, as an inalienable human right, should be comprehensive, harmonious and sustainable.

"Differences in culture and circumstances mean the methods used to safeguard human rights will differ from country to country. The Chinese approach to protect human rights aims at building a harmonious society while simultaneously satisfying public needs to the maximum."

Prof. Harro von Senger from Swiss Institute of Comparative Law is a witness of the tremendous changes that took place within Chinese legislations regarding human rights over the past 30 years. He said the concept of development as an vital part of human rights has been accepted by western countries.

"Western countries now accept the right to food and right to development. These kinds of new human rights come from developing countries. China, as a developing nation, has helped to enrich the concepts of human rights from the points of view of developing countries. I think it is good supplement to our western concepts of human rights that we take more consideration of the needs and desires of developing countries in the field of human rights."

Vice president of China Society for Human Rights Studies, Li Junru, noted that enhancement of human rights also means a course where human rights theories are tested, improved and developed though practice. He called on his foreign colleagues to be more open to the developed concepts of human rights.

"The world has taken a new shape after the Second World War with a large number of developing countries emerging. Thus theories on human rights should develop with the changing times. As a developing country, China has contributed new ideas to complete traditional human rights theories. I encourage western human rights activists should be open-minded to the changes."

More than a hundred participants from 26 countries will spend the following two days discussing topics ranging from safeguarding human rights against the background of the international financial crisis, people-oriented development, safeguarding human rights and poverty elimination.

Wang Ling CRI news.