Ambassador Sha Zukang, head of the Chinese delegation, urged in Geneva Wednesday that the Commission on Human Rights should abandon political confrontation in dealing with the issue of human rights.

Addressing the ongoing Substantive Session of the Economic and Social Council, Sha pointed out the confrontation between the East and the West had been a history, but the confrontation between the North and the South is on the increase.

"The confrontation should be replaced by dialogue, exchange and cooperation on the basis of equality in order to make the Commission an effective organ for promoting and protecting human rights," he said.

Sha stressed that it is also imperative to do away with the practice of one-sided emphasis on civil and political rights while ignoring economic, social and cultural rights and the right to development.

He said the greatest difficulty facing many developing countries in promoting and protecting human rights depends on the level of their economic development.

"Without resolving the right to development, other human rights will not be fully and completely realized."

The council began its substantive session in Geneva this year on June 30. The annual four-week session, held alternately in Geneva and New York, is scheduled to end on July 25.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)