China elected to UN Human Rights Council

China on Tuesday was elected to the UN Human Rights Council for a three-year term.

China was one of the 14 elected members to the 47-member UN human rights body at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly ( UNGA). It got 176 favorable votes from the 192 UN member states present in one round of secret ballot on Tuesday morning, winning a three-year term in the Council from 2014 to 2016.

The UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, Switzerland, and a major United Nations body working to promote and protect human rights worldwide, was set up by the UNGA on March 15, 2006, to replace and build upon the achievements of the 60-year-old Commission on Human Rights.

Members of the UN Human Rights Council are elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the UNGA members and will serve for a period of three years after being elected, but they shall not be eligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms.

China was elected as a founding member of the Council in 2006 and was re-elected for another three-year term in 2009.

"The Chinese government attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of human rights. It has made remarkable achievements and has vigorously developed international cooperation in the field of human rights," said Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, after the election.

He stressed that China is fully qualified to be elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council. China's election to the UN Human Rights Council Tuesday also serves as the international community's acknowledgment of China's significant achievements in the field of human rights.

While expressing gratitude to all countries for their valuable support, Wang said China will continue to participate actively and intensively in activities of UN Human Rights Council, playing a constructive role in the Council, promoting dialogue and cooperation and opposing pressure and confrontation so as to contribute more to a sound development in the cause of international human rights.

In addition to China, the other 13 countries elected to the Council Tuesday include Algeria, Cuba, France, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Britain, and Viet Nam.