Nations urged to advance common value

Democracy is a common value shared by all humanity, and an important indicator of progress in human civilization, a senior official of the Communist Party of China said on Saturday.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark in Beijing while addressing the International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values.

The people's status as masters of the country is the essence of China's democracy, Huang said, adding that practice has proved whole-process people's democracy is a true democracy that works.

Reiterating that there is no one-size-fits-all model for democracy, Huang said the CPC and the Chinese people are willing to work together with all other peoples around the world to carry forward the common values of humanity and advance toward a global community of shared future together.

The forum, sponsored by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council Information Office, was attended by over 500 guests from more than 120 countries and regions and over 20 international organizations.

Yukio Hatoyama, former Japanese prime minister, said that although countries have different social systems, it is indispensable to focus on the common values of peaceful development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom.

"Many countries today are trying to escape the chaos caused by their own values by attacking those of other countries ... which should be avoided," he said, adding that having a mindset that fosters common values is important.

Efforts should be made to spread the idea of a community with a shared future for mankind and the idea of friendship to the whole world and put them into practice, he added.

Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Chile's former president, said human beings are a melting pot of different nations with different cultures, and it's important to respect one another and admit that there are differences.

Diversity in democratic systems should be cherished, and democracy means mutual tolerance and understanding and seeks common development in diversity, he said.

Humanity faces common challenges, including poverty, violence and gender inequality, he said, calling for a more united international community so that mankind as a whole can continue to progress and achieve a high level of development.

Essam Sharaf, a former Egyptian prime minister, said no country is immune to global challenges, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, so concerted efforts are needed to tackle such challenges.

Xinhua contributed to this story.