BEIJING – President Xi Jinping said yesterday that China firmly opposes any person or force creating instability, division and turmoil in China, and firmly opposes any country’s interference in its internal affairs.
He stressed the stance when holding a virtual meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen via video link.
Xi clarified China’s principled position on issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang, stressing that the essence of issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang is to safeguard China’s national sovereignty, security and unity, and to protect the rights of people of all ethnic groups in China to live and work in peace.
Xi says no universal path to human rights development
Meanwhile, Xi also told the German and EU leaders that there is no universal path to human rights development in the world. In terms of human rights protection, there is no best way, only the better one.
He stressed that all countries should handle their own things, adding China believes that the European side can resolve its own human rights issues.
Chinese people will not accept “an instructor” on human rights and oppose “double standards”. China is willing to strengthen exchanges with the European side based on the principle of mutual respect so that the two sides can both make progress, said Xi. – Xinhua
President Xi Jinping co-hosts a China-Germany-EU leaders’ meeting in Beijing yesterday via video link with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. – Xinhua
