China: 39th Human Rights Dialogue with the European Union took pl... 3 of 5 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/china-39th-human-rights-dialogue-e... recommendations for the improvement of the relevant policy and legislative frameworks, including in Tibet and Xinjiang. In this respect, the EU also underlined the importance of the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. China raised the situation and treatment of refugees and migrants, and manifestations of racism and xenophobia in the EU. China also focused on economic, social and cultural rights, while, in the context of business and human rights, the EU updated on incoming European legislation that will introduce human rights due diligence requirements for companies, including in their value chains. The EU also referred to the regulation to prohibit products made with forced labour on the EU market. The EU and China agreed on the importance of upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The EU and China discussed how to achieve both globally and domestically the full realisation of economic, social and cultural rights. The EU highlighted that this realisation must happen on an equal basis with civil and political rights, and recalled that human rights, whether civil, cultural, economic, political or social, are interconnected, interdependent, equally important and equally necessary to protect human dignity. The EU reaffirmed that the full respect for all human rights is a pre-condition to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, economic growth and prosperity. The EU and China will explore opportunities for cooperation in the multilateral framework on economic social and cultural rights, business and human rights, climate change and human rights, women and children rights, as well as the rights of persons with disabilities. The EU reiterated that any cooperation shall be in compliance with international human rights law. The Human Rights Dialogue was followed by an exchange of views with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Beijing Institute of Technology in Beijing on 17 June. A side visit to Tibet took place before the Human Rights Dialogue, in Nyingchi and Lhasa. It was organised by the relevant Chinese authorities at central and local level. The programme included visits to boarding schools, municipalities, cultural and religious sites, relocated Tibetan families, as well as to a prison. The side visit reflected the majority of the EU’s requests, except for meetings with individual prisoners. The short and dense programme provided an opportunity to gain a certain understanding of the reality on the ground and challenges in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Following the visit, the EU put forward several recommendations to ensure full bilingual education, the preservation of the cultural heritage, identity and fundamental freedoms of the Tibetan people. The EU would encourage more visits from the international community and civil society organisations. At the end of the programme, the EU chair debriefed Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs 21/10/2025, 16:48