South-South Human Rights Forum calls for protection of people's right to development

BEIJING, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The first "South-South Human Rights Forum" was concluded in Beijing Friday, calling for efforts to safeguard people's right to development.

The two-day forum centered on the theme "Building a Community of Shared Future for Humanity: New Opportunities for South-South Human Rights Development," with more than 300 officials, scholars and representatives from over 70 countries, regions, and international organizations in attendance.

According to the Beijing Declaration issued at the forum, participants agreed that the right to subsistence and the right to development are the primary basic human rights. The main body of the right to development is the people.

Developing countries should pay special attention to safeguarding the people's right to subsistence and right to development, especially to achieve a decent standard of living, adequate food, clothing, and clean drinking water, the right to housing, security, work, education, health and social security, said the declaration.

The participants agreed in the declaration that Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal to build a community of shared future for humanity is a major concept which conforms to the trend of the times, fits the requirements of development, and reflects the pursuit of a new human social value.

Xi sent a congratulatory letter to the forum Thursday, calling for respect to developing countries' will in human rights development. Enditem