Full human rights for all is a grand dream of human society. The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have always been committed to respecting and protecting human rights. Ever since its establishment, the Communist Party of China has remained true to its goal of pursuing happiness for the Chinese people and progress for humankind. Over the more than 70 years since its founding, the People’s Republic of China has walked a path of human rights protection suited to its national context, taking into account both the universality principle of human rights and the realities of the country.

Since the Party’s 18th National Congress in 2012 in particular, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed the people’s interests above all else and has set fulfilling the people’s aspirations for a better life as its primary goal. Following a people-centered human rights philosophy and giving top priority to ensuring the people’s basic rights to subsistence and development, the Party Central Committee has advanced the people’s economic, political, social, cultural, and environmental rights together. It has worked to safeguard social fairness and justice, promoted well-rounded human development, and strengthened legal protection for human rights. It has constantly elevated respect for and protection of the Chinese people’s basic rights, driven great progress in advancing human rights in China, and made significant contributions to the global cause of human rights.

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s expositions on respecting and protecting human rights are high-minded, forward-looking, insightful, and rich in content. They are of  great significance for better protecting the Chinese people’s human rights, building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. They are also important for promoting more just, equitable, and inclusive global human rights governance and joint pursuit of a human community with a shared future. The purpose of this book is to help readers both in and outside of China gain a better understanding of Xi’s major statements and China’s efforts in human rights protection.

With excerpts from more than 160 important documents including reports, speeches, remarks, congratulatory messages, and directives made by Xi from November 15, 2012 to October 30, 2021, this book brings together 335 passages on respecting and protecting human rights, organized under nine topics. Some of these statements are being published for the first time.

Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

November 2021