Chinese Envoy Says Cambodia’s Human Rights Progress Deserves International Recognition

Chinese Envoy Says Cambodia’s Human Rights Progress Deserves International Recognition

PHNOM PENH, 1 August 2016 — Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin met with Thomas Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, on 30 July, stressing that Cambodia’s achievements in human rights development deserve recognition and respect from the international community.

According to a statement posted on the Chinese Embassy’s official social media platform, Ambassador Wang said Cambodia has made remarkable socio-economic progress over the past three decades, which has contributed significantly to improving the well-being of its people.

He noted that Cambodia has been among the fastest-growing economies in ASEAN over the past nearly 30 years, with the country’s life expectancy increasing from 59 years in 2000 to 76 years today.

“The achievements Cambodia has made in advancing human rights deserve respect from the international community,” Wang said.

The Chinese ambassador also expressed confidence that Cambodia’s human rights development would continue to make even greater progress over the next three decades.

He reaffirmed China’s readiness to engage in dialogue with Cambodia on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

“We are willing to engage in equal dialogue with Cambodia based on mutual respect and work together to promote the advancement of human rights around the world,” Wang said.

The meeting took place during the visit of UN Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews to Cambodia, where he held discussions with government officials and other stakeholders as part of his mission to assess the country’s human rights situation.