Officials and human rights experts from 11 countries gathered in Chengdu on Sunday for the opening leg of the Human Rights Action in China·2026 Sichuan tour, with participants citing the province's environmental conservation efforts as evidence of a rights framework centered on human well-being.

 

A delegation of officials and human rights experts from 11 countries visits Panda Valley on Sunday in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province. [Photo by Peng Chao/chinadaily.com.cn]

 

The delegation, which included representatives from the Maldives, Liberia, Serbia, France, and New Zealand, alongside Chinese human rights scholars and journalists, visited the Panda Valley conservation and biodiversity research base in Dujiangyan, as well as the Dujiangyan irrigation system, a UNESCO World Heritage site in continuous use since its construction more than 2,000 years ago.

 

A delegation of officials and human rights experts from 11 countries visits Panda Valley on Sunday in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province. [Photo by Peng Chao/chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Isaac Mwanza, executive director of the Zambian Civil Liberties Union, described the panda conservation base as reflecting a tangible government commitment to protecting biodiversity.

 

"There's been a misunderstanding about China's human rights practices globally, as some Western media run propaganda against China," he said. "But when you come here, you will find it is very different."

 

Aleksandar Mirkovic, a member of the Serbian parliament, praised the Dujiangyan irrigation system, saying it illustrated a durable philosophy of coexistence with the natural environment. "This is a great example that future generations in China and around the world should learn from," he said.

 

A delegation of officials and human rights experts from 11 countries views the stone statue of Li Bing, who led the construction of the Dujiangyan irrigation system, in Sichuan province. [Photo by Peng Chao/chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Jorge Tavares da Silva, assistant professor at the University of Beira Interior, said the trip allowed him to see that people in China are living better today, as investment goes to the people and is used to improve their living conditions.

 

A delegation of officials and human rights experts from 11 countries visits Zhanqi village in Pidu district, Chengdu, Sichuan province. [Photo by Peng Chao/chinadaily.com.cn]

 

He noted that it's sometimes easier to focus on the economy because it's directly tied to people's lives, but nature is also equally important. "Look at the river and clear water," he said. "They are good for people's lives."

 

A delegation of officials and human rights experts from 11 countries visits Zhanqi village in Pidu district, Chengdu, Sichuan province. [Photo by Peng Chao/chinadaily.com.cn]

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin
Source: chinadaily.com.cn