China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) has told delegates at the UN Human Rights Council that the world needs to "pursue people-centered development."

In his statement, delivered on behalf of 30 nations, Ambassador Chen Xu told delegates, "we call on all parties to pursue people-centered development so as to ensure that development gains are enjoyed on a larger scale and in a more equitable way, especially those in vulnerable and marginalized situations to have equal access to basic rights."

Chen also emphasized nations should "enhance global solidarity and take inclusive measures to combat the pandemic, advance post-pandemic recovery, and ensure equitable access to vaccines and medicines."

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He said the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic "reverses global development gains, hinders the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and exacerbates inequalities within and among countries."

Chen echoed President Xi Jinping's message earlier this year by telling the council the implementation of the 2030 Agenda should "continue to be a priority." Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals have been set but so far are not on track and Chen urged developed countries to take more practical measures and international financial institutions to avoid austerity policies at this time.

He also called on "the UN Human Rights Mechanisms to put more emphasis on the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights and elimination of inequalities, and to provide effective assistance based on the consent of countries concerned."

Chen added: "The HRC and OHCHR should protect the rights of all countries to choose independently the path for development, and oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs, unilateral sanctions without basis in international law, and the politicization and marginalization of the development issue."

China has been accused by some within the international community of human rights violations in Xinjiang, something it has consistently denied.