Despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of countries agree that the right to development is part of the basic human rights, most external obstacles to the realization of the right for developing countries still exist, Chinese ambassador Sha Zukang told the 58th session of the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

Development aid provided by developed countries has been decreasing and more additional conditions are being attached, said Sha.

Each country has the right to choose its own path of development and to set its own priorities in light of its national conditions. There does not exist a uniform model for development, and hardly is there a successful case of development by accepting an externally imposed model, said the Chinese ambassador.

What is needed for developing countries is international cooperation and unselfish assistance based on equality and mutual respect, instead of finger pointing, said the Chinese ambassador.

He said developing countries should be given the equal rights in drawing up international rules. The international community should work to change the unfair international economic, trade and

financial order, not least to set up new obstacles to the development of developing countries.

Sha appealed to developed countries to make good their commitments to development aid, debt relief and capacity building in developing countries.

In the process of globalization, many developing countries are confronted with greater difficulties and the risk of being further marginalized, Sha said.

He urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to play an important role in the realization of the right to development.

(People's Daily March 23, 2002)