The UN chief underlined the global body’s support for this partnership in remarks to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit.

Leaders from some 50 African countries are expected to attend the Summit, which has been held every three years since 2000.

Debt hampers development

Mr. Guterres noted that they were gathering in China amid rising geopolitical tensions, raging conflicts and growing poverty and hunger.  

He pointed to current challenges, including the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, as well as the worsening climate crisis, inequalities and threats to global and African efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Meanwhile, many African countries are mired in debt and struggling to invest in sustainable development, he said.

Reform outdated systems

The UN Secretary-General recalled his proposals to reform “outdated, ineffective and unfair international financial architecture”, and to provide a stimulus plan for developing countries striving to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality.

Solutions include increasing the lending capacity of multilateral development banks and enabling them to massively scale up affordable financing for development.

He stressed that the support of China and Africa for these initiatives is critical.

Progress on shared goals

“In this context, South-South cooperation is essential to build capacities and drive progress on shared development goals – while in no way reducing the responsibilities of the Global North,” he said.

Mr. Guterres described China’s partnership with the African continent as a pillar of South-South cooperation. The process refers to the exchange of technology and skills between countries of the Global South.

“Your joint efforts, based on the United Nations Charter, can create a new momentum for African development,” he said.

He recalled that China is already Africa’s longstanding and largest trading partner. 

“And we know that in Africa, as elsewhere, investments are game-changing when they respect national ownership and are financially sustainable, climate-sensitive and consistent with international human rights commitments.” 

Partnership for transition

Furthermore, “China’s remarkable record of development – including on eradicating poverty – provides a wealth of experience and expertise”, he continued.

“The China-Africa partnership can drive the renewable energy revolution. It can be a catalyst for key transitions on food systems and digital connectivity,” he said.

“And as home to some of the world’s most dynamic economies, Africa can maximize the potential of China’s support in areas from trade to data management, finance and technology.”

Meeting today’s challenges

Mr. Guterres also used the speech to highlight the need to “correct some historic injustices”.

For example, it was “outrageous” that the continent of Africa has no permanent seat on the UN Security Council, he said.

In this regard, the Summit of the Future at UN Headquarters later this month “will be a pivotal opportunity for renewal and reform – anchored in solidarity and justice”.

The UN chief spoke of the proposed focus on the prevention of and joint approaches to new and emerging threats to global security, building on recent success in authorizing UN-assessed contributions for African Union-led peace operations. 

“We are pushing for reforms so that the international financial architecture and institutions correspond to the realities of today’s world and can respond to today’s challenges – particularly those faced by developing countries, namely in Africa. Your full engagement will be critical to finding sustainable solutions,” he said. 

Concluding his remarks, the Secretary-General underscored “the full engagement of the United Nations in support of a strong China-Africa partnership, towards our shared goal of peace, sustainable development and human rights on a healthy planet”.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

At noon on September 4, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping pointed out, China and Mozambique have always stood together through thick and thin. In recent years, the two heads of state have met many times, which has led the two countries to continuously deepen political mutual trust, achieve fruitful results in mutually beneficial cooperation and usher in a promising new era of China-Mozambique relations. Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mozambique. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that the two sides will work together to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and add new dimensions to the China-Mozambique comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Xi Jinping stressed that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) made systematic plans on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which shows China’s determination to continuously expand opening-up and will provide new opportunities for China and Mozambique to jointly advance modernization. The two sides should be good brothers who support and trust each other, good partners for mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, and good friends who help each other and work together in solidarity. China is ready to expand cooperation with Mozambique in infrastructure, energy, minerals, agriculture, digital economy and other fields to boost Mozambique’s industrialization and economic diversification. China welcomes Mozambique to make good use of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit to expand economic, trade and investment cooperation with China and pass on the friendship between the two countries. China supports Mozambique in fighting terrorism and maintaining national stability, and is ready to keep close cooperation with Mozambique at the United Nations and other multilateral platforms.

Filipe Jacinto Nyusi congratulated China on the successful convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, saying that the CPC’s strategic plan to further deepen reforms comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization fully reflects President Xi Jinping’s foresight and vision. Mozambique firmly abides by the one-China principle, supports China’s positions on Taiwan, the South China Sea and other issues related to China’s core interests, supports China’s “One Country, Two Systems” policy, and opposes unfounded accusations against China on human rights and other issues. Mozambique hopes to deepen cooperation with China in such areas as economy, trade, agriculture, connectivity and security. Mozambique highly appreciates the series of global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping as well as his major proposals for improving global governance. Mozambique is ready to increase mutual support with China on multilateral issues and promote the building of a more just and equitable international order. He wishes the FOCAC Beijing Summit a complete success.

During the summit, China and Mozambique signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents covering pigeon pea, macadamia nut and cashew nut exports to China, news media and other areas.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.

As Lesotho faces a worsening food security crisis, Reena Ghelani, the Assistant Secretary-General and Climate Crisis Coordinator for El Niño and La Niña, accompanied by Andrea Noyes, the Head of the Regional Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), undertook a four-day mission to the country to meet with communities affected by the drought, Government officials, UN, and civil society partners.

Ms. Ghelani, Ms. Noyes and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Amanda Khozi Mukwashi informed the Government that the acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator will release US$2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to facilitate a joint, coordinated humanitarian response.

On 12 July 2024, the Government of Lesotho declared a state of National Food Insecurity Disaster after a historic drought triggered by El Niño led to the lowest crop yields since the 2018/19 agricultural season.

According to the Government, about a third of the population—approximately 700,000 people—will face hunger in the coming months. In rural areas, more than 400,000 people are expected to experience crisis levels of acute hunger through March 2025. Vulnerability assessments show that an additional 296,049 people are expected to become food insecure in urban areas. The drought has resulted in severe water shortages, with wells drying up.

“We must support vulnerable communities affected by the drought in Lesotho,” said Reena Ghelani. “This US$2 million allocation will help scale up humanitarian assistance for those most in need, but we also need to strengthen long-term resilience to prevent future crises.”

During her mission, Ms. Ghelani engaged with Government and partners on immediate needs, ongoing response, and strategies to build long-term resilience against climate shocks. She met with affected communities in Qacha’s Nek and Mafeteng to assess the impact of the drought on the most vulnerable.

“The situation is difficult. We met farmers who said the drought has led to crop failures, and we spoke to distressed mothers who told us they don’t have enough food for their children. This allocation will be critical to help people access sufficient food and other essential services. The time for action is now,” Andrea Noyes said. “OCHA is supporting the UN and partners in Lesotho to strengthen humanitarian coordination and scale up the response to complement Government efforts.”

“We stand with the people of Lesotho in this time of need,” said Amanda Khozi Mukwashi. “As demonstrated by the emergency allocation, the UN is committed to working closely with the Government of Lesotho and all partners to ensure a coordinated and effective response.”

The UN in Lesotho is actively supporting the operationalization of the recently launched National El Niño Response Plan, which requires approximately $212.9 million, with outstanding funding needs of $112.8 million.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its fifty-seventh regular session from 9 September to 11 October 2024 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.   

The session will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 9 September under the presidency of Ambassador Omar Zniber (Morocco).  The opening will be addressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.  The Council will be meeting in room XX of the Palais des Nations. 

During the session, the Council will hold 30 interactive dialogues with Special Procedures mandate holders, expert mechanisms and investigative mechanisms.  It will hold interactive dialogues with the High Commissioner under agenda item two on Nicaragua, under agenda item four on Myanmar, and under agenda item 10 on Ukraine, Honduras and Haiti.   

The Council will hold enhanced interactive dialogues on Afghanistan and Sudan under agenda item two; with the High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement under agenda item nine; and under agenda item 10 on the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands, and with the High Commissioner and the Team of International Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  It will also hold an interactive dialogue with the Advisory Committee. 

The Council will hold six panel discussions on promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities; quality education for peace and tolerance for every child; the right to development; the implementation of States’ obligations on the role of the family in supporting the human rights of its members; the rights of indigenous peoples; and the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Council.  It will additionally hear presentations of country and thematic reports from the Secretary-General, including his report on reprisals against those who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations.   

Reports and oral updates will be presented on the human rights situations in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua under agenda item two; Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Burundi, the Syrian Arab Republic, Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation under agenda item four; and on South Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Cambodia under agenda item 10.  At the end of the session, the Council will appoint four mandate holders of Special Procedures and expert mechanisms, and elect four members of its Advisory Committee. 

The final outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 States will also be considered, namely those of New Zealand, Afghanistan, Chile, Cyprus, Viet Nam, Yemen, Vanuatu, North Macedonia, Comoros, Slovakia, Eritrea, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic and Cambodia.   

A detailed agenda and further information on the fifty-seventh session can be found on the session’s web page.  Reports to be presented are available here.  All meetings of this session are broadcast on UN Web TV.  

First Week of the Session 

The fifty-seventh regular session will open on Monday, 9 September under the presidency of Ambassador Omar Zniber.  Under agenda item two on the annual report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General, the Council will be addressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who will present an update to his annual report on the situation of human rights across the world.  This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar; an interactive dialogue on the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka; an enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan based on an oral update by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and a report by the Office of the High Commissioner; and an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on his report on the human rights situation in Nicaragua.   

Tuesday, 10 September will start with the conclusion of the Nicaraguan dialogue, followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue on Sudan with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, which will continue until the afternoon.  This will be followed by the presentation of an oral update by the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, and the presentation of the High Commissioner’s report on the implementation of resolution 31/36.  The Council will then begin its general debate under agenda item two, which will continue on Wednesday, 11 September in the morning.  The Council will start the Wednesday afternoon meeting by opening its agenda item three on the promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and holding a panel discussion on economic, social and cultural rights within the context of addressing inequalities.  It will then conclude the general debate on agenda item two, and begin an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, to be concluded on Thursday, 12 September. 

Also on Thursday, the Council will hold three separate interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; and the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, the latter which will conclude on Friday, 13 September.  Following this, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.  It will then conclude its first week with an interactive dialogue on the Secretary-General’s analytical study on climate change. 

Second Week of the Session 

The second week of the session will begin on Monday, 16 September with three separate interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation; the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.  Tuesday, 17 September will see four separate interactive dialogues held with the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development; and the Special Rapporteur on the right to development.  

On Wednesday, 18 September, the day will begin with a panel discussion on quality education for peace and tolerance for every child.  Following this, the Council will conclude the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Working Group on the rights of peasants.  The dialogue with the Working Group will conclude on Wednesday afternoon, after the Council’s biennial panel on the right development.   

This will be followed by presentations of thematic reports prepared by the United Nations Secretary-General and the High Commissioner; briefings by the President of the Economic and Social Council and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission; and presentations of reports by the Working Group on the right to development, and by the open-ended intergovernmental Working Group to elaborate the content of an international regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies.  This will be followed by the start of the general debate under agenda item three, which will continue through the morning of Thursday, 19 September.   

After the general debate concludes on Thursday afternoon, the Council will open its agenda item four on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention and begin an interactive dialogue with the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which will conclude on the morning of Friday, 20 September.  Also on Friday, the Council will hold three separate interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi; the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; and the Group of Independent Experts on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus which will present its first oral update.  The second week will end with a closed meeting on the complaint procedure. 

Third Week of the Session 

The third week will kick off on Monday, 23 September with three separate interactive dialogues with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; the High Commissioner on the human rights situation in Myanmar; and with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation.  The Council will conclude the day by beginning its general debate under agenda item four.  The general debate will continue into Tuesday, 24 September, followed by interactive dialogues with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples.   

The interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples will conclude on Wednesday, 25 September in between the morning panel discussion on the implementation of States’ obligations on the role of the family in supporting the human rights of its members; and the afternoon annual panel discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples on the theme of laws, policies, judicial decisions and other measures taken by States to achieve the ends of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  Under agenda item five on human rights bodies and mechanisms, the Council will then hold an interactive dialogue with the Advisory Committee, which will conclude on the morning of Thursday, 26 September.   

Also on Thursday, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue on the Secretary-General’s report on alleged reprisals against those who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations.  It will then hold its general debate under agenda item five.  The rest of the third week will be dedicated to the consideration of the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Reviews of New Zealand, Afghanistan, Chile, Cyprus, Viet Nam, Yemen, Vanuatu, North Macedonia, Comoros, Slovakia, Eritrea, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic and Cambodia.  This will continue into the fourth week, until Tuesday, 1 October.  

Fourth Week of the Session 

The fourth week will commence on Monday, 30 September with the Council’s annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout its work and that of its mechanisms, under the theme of enhancing gender integration in human rights investigations: a victim-centred perspective.  The Council will then continue with the considerations of the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Reviews for the rest of the day, finishing the morning of Tuesday, 1 October.  Following the final review on Tuesday, the Council will hold its general debate under agenda item six on the Universal Periodic Review.  It will then hold the general debate under agenda item seven on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, and start the general debate under agenda item eight on follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which will conclude on Wednesday, 2 October in the morning.   

The Council will then open up its agenda item nine on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, follow-up to and implementation of the Durban Declaration and programme of action and hold an interactive dialogue with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner and the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement.  This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.   

On Thursday, 3 October, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination will present its report, followed by the presentation of the report of the Group of Independent Eminent Experts, and of the High Commissioner’s oral update on sports and racism.  These will be followed by a general debate under agenda item nine.   

The Council will then open its agenda item 10 on technical assistance and capacity building and hold an interactive dialogue on the oral update of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on its technical assistance and capacity building efforts for South Sudan, which will conclude on the morning of Friday, 4 October.  Also on Friday, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands, followed by separate interactive dialogues with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.  

Fifth Week of the Session 

The fifth and final week of the Council will begin on Monday, 7 October with three separate interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia; with the High Commissioner on his oral update on the findings in the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Ukraine; and with the High Commissioner on his report on technical cooperation in Honduras, which will continue into the morning of Tuesday, 8 October.  Also on Tuesday, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on his report on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and with the Team of International Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The Council will then hold an interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on his interim report of the human rights situation in Haiti, with the participation of the independent human rights expert on Haiti. 

Tuesday will conclude with presentations of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner’s country reports and oral updates on Cambodia and Yemen and the Office of the High Commissioner’s report on the implementation of resolution 51/33 on promoting international cooperation to support national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, followed by the general debate under agenda item 10, which will conclude on Wednesday, 9 October in the morning.  From Wednesday afternoon, through Thursday, 10 October and until Friday, 11 October, the Council will take action on draft resolutions and decisions.  It will then elect Advisory Committee members for four vacant seats, appoint four mandate holders of Special Procedures and expert mechanisms, adopt its session report ad referendum, and close its fifty-seventh regular session.   

The Human Rights Council 

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system, made up of 47 States, which are responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.  The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them. 

The composition of the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fifth session is as follows: Albania (2026); Algeria (2025); Argentina (2024); Bangladesh (2025); Belgium (2025); Benin (2024); Brazil (2026); Bulgaria (2026); Burundi (2026); Cameroon (2024); Chile (2025); China (2026); Costa Rica (2025); Côte d’Ivoire (2026); Cuba (2026); Dominican Republic (2026); Eritrea (2024); Finland (2024); France (2026); Gambia (2024); Georgia (2025); Germany (2025); Ghana (2026); Honduras (2024); India (2024); Indonesia (2026); Japan (2026); Kazakhstan (2024); Kuwait (2026); Kyrgyzstan (2025); Lithuania (2024); Luxembourg (2024); Malawi (2026); Malaysia (2024); Maldives (2025); Montenegro (2024); Morocco (2025); Netherlands (Kingdom of the) (2026); Paraguay (2024); Qatar (2024); Romania (2025); Somalia (2024); South Africa (2025); Sudan (2025); United Arab Emirates (2024); United States of America (2024); and Viet Nam (2025). 

The term of membership of each State expires in the year indicated in parentheses. 

The President of the Human Rights Council in 2024 is Omar Zniber (Morocco).  The four Vice-Presidents are Febrian Ruddyard (Indonesia); Darius Staniulis (Lithuania); Marcela Maria Arias Moncada (Honduras); and Heidi Schroderus-Fox (Finland).  Mr. Staniulis will also serve as Rapporteur of the Geneva-based body.  

The dates and the programme of work of the fifty-seventh session are subject to change. 

Information on the fifty-seventh session can be found here, including the annotated agenda and the reports to be presented. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).