China: 38th Human Rights Dialogue with the European Union takes p...
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The Diplomatic Service of the European Union
EEAS > China: 38th Human Rights Dialogue with the European Union takes place in Brussels
China: 38th Human Rights Dialogue with the
European Union takes place in Brussels
17.02.2023
Brussels
EEAS Press Team
The 38th session of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue was held in Brussels on 17
February 2023. The EU and China welcomed the re-opening of this dedicated channel of
communication on human rights issues during President Michel’s visit to China on 1
December 2022.
The dialogue included an in-depth exchange of views on human rights developments both
in the EU and in China. The EU expressed serious concern at the persistent restrictions on
the exercise of fundamental freedoms, use of forced labour, limits on due process rights
and lack of judicial independencein China. In doing so, the EU highlighted the particularly
vulnerable situation of Uyghurs, Tibetans and persons belonging to religious, ethnic and
linguistic minorities across the country. The EU referred to the report issued by UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Xinjiang, underscoring
the urgency of implementing the recommendations included in the report. The EU also
referred to the deterioration in the situation of freedom of peaceful assembly and
association, and freedom of expression in Hong Kong. China focused on the situation and
treatment of refugees and migrants in the EU and manifestations of racism and xenophobia
in the EU.
China and the EU agreed on the importance of achieving globally and domestically the full
realisation of economic, social and cultural rights. The EU highlighted that this realisation
should happen on an equal basis with civil and political rights, and recalled that human
rights, whether civil, cultural, economic, political or social, are equally importantand equally
necessary to protect human dignity. It also reaffirmed that the full respect for human rights
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