International experts emphasized national sovereignty in human rights advancement during dual seminars held this week in Jakarta and Pretoria. At the December 2 Jakarta forum, attended by over 20 Chinese and Indonesian scholars, participants stressed that all nations possess the fundamental right to determine their own human rights frameworks while fostering cross-cultural dialogue.
"Development remains the cornerstone of human rights progress," stated one Indonesian think tank representative, highlighting the seminar's focus on poverty alleviation and sustainable growth as universal priorities.
Parallel discussions unfolded at the December 4 China-South Africa Seminar, where experts proposed concrete collaboration models. "By combining China's Belt and Road expertise with Africa's developmental needs, we can create new paradigms for South-South cooperation," noted a Pretoria-based academic. Participants called for reformed global governance structures to address North-South development gaps.
Both events underscored the growing consensus among Global South nations to champion multilateral approaches to human rights, distancing from prescriptive Western models. Recent initiatives include joint training programs between Chinese and African institutions on poverty reduction strategies, set to launch in Q1 2026.
