The first meeting of the fourth council of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development is held at Capital Hotel in Beijing on October 25, 2023. Photo: Zhang Changyue/GT

 
The China Foundation for Human Rights Development will further innovate international exchanges to enhance understanding between Chinese and foreign civil societies in the field of human rights, actively participating in global human rights governance and better sharing the stories of how China has improved its human rights conditions, the Global Times learned at a meeting held by the national social organization which is under the supervision of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Held at the Capital Hotel in Beijing on Wednesday morning, the first meeting of the fourth council of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development elected the fourth council and leadership of the foundation. Xie Fuzhan, former president and Party secretary of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was elected as the chairman of the new council. Zhou Shuchun, former president and editor-in-chief of China Daily, was elected as the executive vice chairman. 

The meeting also reviewed and approved the work report of the third council, the financial audit report, and the development outline from 2024 to 2028. About 120 representatives including officials from central and local governments' publicity departments, scholars from universities and research institutes, as well as delegates from enterprises, attended the meeting.

When concluding the foundation's work in the past six years, Zuo Feng, the foundation's vice chairman pointed out that there is a need to further expand channels for human rights promotion and international communication cooperation and innovate relevant methods. The team of experts and scholars, as well as influential brand public welfare projects also needed to be expanded. 

It is important to use factual examples and data to present the development of China's human rights conditions and to refute the smear by some Western countries on China's human rights issues, said Wang Gang, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. 

Wang urged the foundation to promote the development of human rights in China with a strong sense of mission, responsibility and urgency, and to implement overseas human rights public welfare projects to make contributions in the development of the global human rights cause.