On Dec. 10, 2018, a symposium was held in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of HumanRights. [Photo by Song Jihe/China News Agency]

On February 25, 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the 37th group study session on China's path of human rights development at the Political Bureau of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He delivered an important speech in which he stated that "in our practice to advance the country's human rights, we have explored a way to human rights protection that conforms to the trend of times and suits China's national conditions." When addressing the main features and valuable experience of China's path of human rights protection, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "We fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, and adhere to the peoplecentered development philosophy. We insist that development is for the people, by the people and with the people sharing in its fruits. We also spare no effort to solve most practical problems of the utmost and immediate concern to the people, devote great energy to addressing development's imbalances and inadequacies, and push hard to improve the quality and effect of development that is more efficient, equitable, sustainable and secure. With this, we should see that our people will always have a strong sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security." General Secretary Xi Jinping's important statement is a clear summary of how China has succeeded in making historical achievements in human rights protection; it is by adhering to a people-oriented way to safeguard and improve human rights through development.

I. Upholding the people-centered approach in human rights protection

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of crucial statements on respecting and protecting human rights. These statements comprehensively and thoroughly explain the new vision of human rights protection in China in the new era and build a new discourse on human rights in China in the new era. Moreover, they have become the most ambitious plan to respect and protect human rights in China today.

On December 10, 2018, in his congratulatory letter to the symposium marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Xi Jinping clearly stated that "China adheres to a people-centered approach to human rights protection." Adhering to this approach aligns the thought of putting people at the center in the new era with the philosophy of human rights protection, which essentially reflects the underlying issue that respecting the principal position of the people in the country's political life is the prerequisite to the country's progress in human rights. Standing on the people's side represents the fundamental political stance of the CPC, and the affinity to the people is the most distinct characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics. "The affinity to the people is the most prominent feature of China's path of human rights protection," said General Secretary Xi Jinping while presiding over the 37th group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. This statement clarifies for whom and by whom the progress in human rights is. The people-centered approach to human rights protection is essential to the CPC's view of human rights in the new era.

There are three levels of adhering to the people-centered approach to human rights protection and standing on the people's side in the practice of promoting China's human rights cause in the new era: