Experts hail China's democracy as 'robust'

China has charted a socialist democratic path with Chinese characteristics that suits its people's needs and is a well-deserved winner in developing democracy and promoting human rights, said foreign officials and experts on Wednesday.

They made the remarks at an online event on the sidelines of the ongoing 49th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

"The whole-process people's democracy with distinct Chinese characteristics is China's contribution of ideas and solutions to the political progress of humanity," said Koh King Kee, president of the Center for New Inclusive Asia.

The whole-process people's democracy is "more robust and more representative", as it ensures the extensive participation of people from all walks of life, rather than just combining with the rich and powerful, he said.

Hailing the Communist Party of China's core value that ensures the people are the masters of the country, he said whole-process people's democracy makes Chinese people continuously participate in political activities at all levels.

Riaz Hussain Khokhar, former foreign secretary of Pakistan, praised the CPC as "well-connected, organized and down-to-earth" and said the Party and the state have "taken good care of requirements and needs of Chinese people".

Participants at the meeting appreciated that China has made unprecedented achievements in economic development, poverty reduction, human rights and in its response to COVID-19.

Harvey Dzodin, senior research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, commended China for lifting 850 million people out of extreme poverty, saying that it is "an unequaled achievement in the history of the world".

Participants agreed that there is no universal democratic template in the world and every country has the right to independently choose and formulate its own form of democracy.

They maintained that the principal factor to judge democracy is how it can offer solutions for the benefit of the people and no country has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of democracy.

Dzodin said it is wrong for the US and some of its allies to believe that their systems of democracy are superior to those of other countries.

With many human rights flaws, Washington should "get its own house in order first", he added.