A readers' forum on the book titled "Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights" was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday.

In his address at the forum, Jiang Jianguo, executive vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, noted that the book has been published in 13 foreign languages, drawing readers worldwide from the fields of human rights, politics, academic research, media and think tanks.

From this book, readers can see Xi's deep care for the people and his vision for the world as a leader of a major party and a major country, said Jiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and vice director of the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee.

Readers can also gain an understanding of the Communist Party of China's century-long commitment to respecting and protecting human rights, and the independent path China has pursued in advancing human rights, Jiang said, expressing his hope that the book will provide useful references for African countries to advance modernization, improve human rights governance and people's well-being.

In his address, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai said that both China and Africa stress a people-centered approach and a human rights path suited to national conditions, while opposing the politicization of human rights issues.

China and Ethiopia have played an exemplary role in China-Africa human rights exchanges and cooperation, he said, adding that China-Africa exchanges and cooperation on human rights will not only advance the human rights cause in China and Africa, but also contribute to deepening the China-Africa community with a shared future and to promoting the progress of humanity.

For his part, Liberia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeddi Mowbray Armah said that each country must, based on its own history, culture and development stage, carve out a path that suits its national conditions, while persisting in the common pursuit of dignity, justice and equality. He added that for Global South nations, this concept resonates deeply.

Around 150 representatives from African political, academic, media and student communities attended the event. 

Source: XINHUA