In a significant move to align their visions on a fundamental global issue, China and African nations convened the first-ever China–Africa Human Rights Seminar in the Ethiopian capital on August 22.
The landmark event underscored a shared commitment to framing economic progress and modernization as the bedrock of human rights.
Held under the theme “Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development,” the seminar brought together over 200 high-level participants.
The audience included policymakers, diplomats, leading academics, and media representatives from across China and the African continent, signaling the importance both sides place on this dialogue.
A central thread of the discussions was the assertion, championed by China, that security and development are prerequisites for the full enjoyment of human rights.
Jiang Jianguo, Vice President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS), articulated this viewpoint, emphasizing that development is the “foundational human right.” He pointed to China’s own governance-driven modernization as a successful model that has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, thereby securing their basic rights.
This perspective found a receptive and collaborative audience among African scholars and attendees.
Experts from various African nations expanded on the concept, arguing that the realization of the right to development is indispensable for achieving other critical rights.
They stressed that food sovereignty, access to healthcare, and environmental protection are all dependent on a nation’s broader economic development and capacity to invest in its people.
The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported that attendees highlighted how sustainable development directly empowers citizens and strengthens national resilience.
The inaugural seminar marks a clear strategic step by both China and African partners to shape the global human rights narrative.
By placing the “right to development” at the forefront of their dialogue, they present an alternative to what they often characterize as a Western-dominated discourse that prioritizes civil and political rights.
Beyond the philosophical alignment, the event is seen as a key pillar in deepening the comprehensive China-Africa partnership.
It moves the relationship beyond infrastructure loans and diplomatic support into the realm of people-to-people and intellectual exchange, building a shared framework of values.
This collaboration suggests a future where China and Africa will increasingly present a united front in international forums, advocating for a development-centric approach to human rights that reflects their own historical experiences and priorities.