New UN Chief calls for human rights to be respected during China visit

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, Nov 29: The new UN Chief called for human rights to be respected unambiguously as he spoke to reporters with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to China on Monday.

15218329_1331161336928273_1842958227_n“The United Nations needs to make sure there is an “effective combination” of human, civil and economic rights in a world where many rights are not respected” Reuters quoted U.N. Secretary General-elect Antonio Guterres as saying in its report.

The incoming UN Secretary General, without specifically mentioning China, said what was needed was a United Nations that abides by its principles as he jointly spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the reporters.

“In a world where so many rights are not respected, to make sure that there is an effective combination in human rights, of the civil and political rights and the economic and social rights in a balanced way,” Guterres said.

Antonio Guterres, the ninth UN Secretary General who is to succeed Ban KI-moon on Jan 1, 2017 has separately met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Earlier in July, the incumbent UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on China to respect civil society when he visited China.