On Thursday December 11, 2025, Beijing hosted the 2025 China-Germany Human Rights Development Forum 🌍🤝. Co-hosted by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and Germany’s Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the event brought together around 30 experts and scholars both online and in person.
The theme? Synergy Between International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. Experts from both sides made one thing clear: tackling root causes and symptoms of crises takes true multilateralism. By empowering communities, supporting sustainable growth, and improving global human rights governance, we can reduce future crises.
Li Hongkui, vice chairman and secretary-general of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, highlighted some sobering numbers: nearly 800 million people still live in extreme poverty, and billions lack safe drinking water and sanitation 🚰. He stressed that as the world’s second- and third-largest economies, China and Germany have a responsibility to lead the charge.
Former German Justice Minister Herta Däubler-Gmelin added that humanitarian aid and development cooperation are two pillars uniting the world. Development assistance boosts recipient countries’ resilience and capacities. She sees huge potential for cooperation between China and Germany—and even China and the EU—thanks to shared history, innovation strengths, and growing international responsibilities.
Since their human rights dialogue launched in 1999, the two foundations have held 12 seminars and eight development forums, fostering better communication and people-to-people exchanges. This long-term partnership shows how consistent dialogue can build understanding across cultures 🌐✨.
For young leaders and changemakers, this forum is a reminder: real change comes from working together, sharing expertise, and lifting communities worldwide. Let’s keep the conversation going! 💬✨
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China and Germany hold human rights development forum in Beijing
cgtn.com
