The First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar, under the theme “Building the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and Working Together to Realize the Right to Development,” is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

African experts have praised China’s role in advancing the right to development across the continent, highlighting its respect for each country’s unique development path.

The remarks were made as the First China-Africa Human Rights Seminar was held on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, under the theme “Building the China-Africa community with a shared future and working together to realize the right to development.”

The event brought together more than 200 policymakers, scholars, diplomats, and media representatives from China and Africa to explore ways to advance human rights, particularly the right to development.

In an interview with Xinhua, Fredrick Mutesa, secretary general of the Zambia-China Friendship Association, said China continues to engage with Africa and the wider Global South by respecting each country’s governance architecture and socio-economic development path.

“China is offering the African continent a real opportunity to renegotiate the participation in the international order based on non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, mutual respect, and win-win outcomes. In that regard, China is playing a very crucial role in helping Africa realize the right to development,” Mutesa told Xinhua.

The expert called for concerted efforts among African and Chinese scholars and think tanks to develop a broad strategy to safeguard the benefits of Africa-China cooperation.

Children wait for free meal at a charity kitchen in Al-Fitaihab neighborhood in Omdurman, Sudan, Aug. 12, 2025. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)

“You cannot have a continent where over 300 million are suffering from hunger, and we are just a few years from the 2030 goal of ending hunger,” he said. “It is important that we talk about the right to development and also look at who is partnering with Africa to create conducive conditions for the realization of this right.”

“China is at the forefront by investing in unlocking the potential of the African continent through infrastructure development and other sectors of the economy,” he added.

Balew Demissie, a researcher at the Policy Studies Institute of Ethiopia, echoed Mutesa’s views, stressing China’s role in promoting a diverse approach to human rights while respecting each country’s unique development path.

“China advocates for human rights cooperation based on mutual respect, free from politicization or double standards. China sees economic growth and poverty alleviation as essential foundations for realizing human rights, especially in developing nations,” Demissie emphasized.

Highlighting China’s positive contributions to promoting Africa’s right to development across various bilateral and multilateral platforms, the scholar said China supports reforms in international institutions to amplify the voices of the Global South and uphold national sovereignty.

Source:?Xinhua News Agency