MADRID, Spain — Experts from around the world gathered on Thursday to celebrate China’s contributions to global human rights governance at a reader’s colloquium. The event, held in Madrid, focused on the book Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights, attracting over 80 participants from political, economic, and cultural sectors.
Scholars hailed the book as a vital window into China’s evolving human rights philosophy. Marta Montoro, manager and director of Institutional Relations of Cátedra China in Spain, remarked that the book offers readers a clear lens to understand China’s human rights practices, moving beyond preconceived notions.
Chinese Ambassador to Spain Yao Jing highlighted that President Xi’s discourses showcase the Communist Party of China’s firm commitment to protecting human rights and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
José Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, provided an in-depth analysis of how Xi’s thoughts on respecting and protecting human rights are integrated into the political practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He emphasized seven key areas: the right to development and poverty alleviation, building the rule of law in China, whole-process people’s democracy and grassroots democracy, gender equality, ecological civilization, ethnic unity and multicultural identity, and multilateralism with a global human rights perspective.
According to Centella, Xi’s human rights thought forms a multidimensional and interconnected system, serving as a pragmatic response to real-world challenges for a country representing more than one-sixth of the world’s population.
Carlos Bielsa Martin, spokesperson for the Center for Studies and Work on the New Silk Road Association, expressed hope that the publication would allow people worldwide to gain deeper insights into Xi’s human rights statements. He believes it could promote exchanges and cooperation between China and European countries, enhancing mutual understanding and trust.
Eddy Sanchez Iglesias, director of the Foundation of Marxist Research, stated that China’s approach to human rights offers valuable insights for the world, especially for developing countries seeking effective models of human rights protection tailored to their unique contexts.
Spanish universities and educational institutions have embraced the book as a key teaching resource. Professor Blanca Rosa García Henche emphasized that intercultural dialogue and mutual learning are essential for advancing human rights understanding worldwide.
María Sabas Elías, head of Spain’s CSB Education Group, noted that China’s human rights practices resonate with the diverse cultural backgrounds of different countries. She added that the book serves as a bridge for China-Spain cultural exchange, helping Spanish-speaking readers better understand China’s human rights philosophy.
Miguel Bravo Gómez, a young Spanish translator, urged readers to move beyond Western-centric perspectives and understand China’s values within its own historical and cultural framework. He stressed that just as Western countries have developed rights systems suited to their societies, China has found a path that works for its people.
Compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights uses nine themes to systematically record President Xi’s remarks on respecting and protecting human rights. The Spanish-Chinese versions of the book were published by the Central Compilation and Translation Press in 2022.
