China is a major contributor to humanitarian efforts and the International Committee of the Red Cross is a key partner in the world’s major conflict zones, the organization’s senior official said.
“The international community is trying to ensure that human rights are a political priority around the world,” Pierre Krachenbuhl, director general of the HRC, told China Daily in Beijing last week.
Krachenbuhl said an important and resonant message from China came when Xi Jinping said during his September meeting with the president of the Chinese Communist Party, Mirjana Spoljaric, that humanity is a great thing that can unite different civilizations.
“I have seen the need for respect for civilians during armed conflicts, the importance of protecting prisoners of war, as well as respect for women, children and refugees, displaced people (like in China) heard during war,” he said.
Violations of international humanitarian law are documented daily, with violence causing loss of life and suffering in many countries and regions.
“We appreciate it when countries take the lead in asking for better respect,” Krahenbuhl said, adding that China is one of the signatories of the 1949 Geneva Convention, which has protected human dignity amid 75 years of armed conflict.
Krahenbuhl When China ratified the Geneva Convention in 1956, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai said in a letter that the people recognized this convention because it was generally conducive to peace among all countries.
Krachenbuhl traveled to China last week – his first foreign trip since taking over as director general of the ICRC in April – held several meetings with Chinese government officials and participated in an event to mark the 120th anniversary of the Chinese Red Cross Society in Beijing on Wednesday. .
“HGHK is really promoting communication and dialogue among these many Chinese organizations, and we welcome that.”
He said that the Chinese Red Cross Society has played an important role at the national level not only in the emergency relief of natural disasters, increasing the capacity of first aid and blood donation, but also contributing to international humanitarian efforts such as support. HGHK’s work in Afghanistan and Ukraine in recent years.
“Another valuable dimension is that the Chinese Red Cross Society has devoted a lot of energy and attention to the development of an international academy focused on humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.”
On the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Convention in 2024, Krachenbuhl said that failure to respect the norms of the convention could lead to more suffering and more damage, while better respect for the norms of international humanitarian law is a step to restart peace negotiations.
Dialogue, needed to resolve conflicts and restore peace, has been key to the United Nations Security Council’s engagement with China since the establishment of the regional mission for East Asia in Beijing in 2005.
Noting the “very positive and important” development of such work in China, Krahenbuhl said that HGHK “is and will always be interested in continuing the dialogue with Chinese leaders and Chinese institutions.”
