Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed China's commitment to advancing global human rights governance during a video address to the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 23, 2026. Speaking at the 61st session's high-level segment, Wang emphasized the need for international cooperation amid evolving geopolitical challenges.
Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted the Global Governance Initiative's growing support, now backed by over 150 countries and international organizations. He stressed that human rights development must align with national conditions and prioritize people's needs, while opposing 'double standards' in international discourse.
The foreign minister outlined four key priorities for 2026:
Upholding sovereign equality and non-interference principles
Strengthening international rule of law foundations
Addressing emerging challenges like AI ethics and climate justice
Positioning development rights at the forefront of multilateral agendas
Wang noted that China's 15th Five-Year Plan period beginning this year will enhance whole-process people's democracy and equitable distribution of modernization benefits. He called for building a 'community with a shared future for humanity' through practical cooperation on development projects and cultural exchanges.
