习近平会见美国工商界和战略学术界代表
习近平会见美国工商界和战略学术界代表
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Democracy a common right of all people: Chinese envoy to S. Africa

Source: Xinhua | 2021-12-12

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The so-called "Summit for Democracy" ran counter to the spirit of democracy and has exposed Washington's true intention to weaponize democracy to serve its self-interests, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Chen Xiaodong has said.

The meeting has undermined the harmonious atmosphere for international cooperation and the environment for world peace and development, Chen said in a recent opinion piece published on the South African news website IOL.

The United States' self-proclaimed moral high ground of democracy has long been chipped away, he said, adding that money politics in the United States distorts and represses public opinion, making confidence in American democracy fall to its lowest level in 20 years.

Outside its borders, the United States has been obsessed with exporting democracy to other countries, and its "democratic transformation" campaign has produced nothing but harm, Chen said.

Citing the results of the latest poll by the Pew Research Center, Chen said 81 percent of Americans say there is a serious domestic threat to the future of U.S. democracy, 72 percent believe American democracy is no longer a good model for other countries to follow, and 44 percent of respondents all around the world see the U.S. as the biggest threat to global democracy.

"There are no identical political systems in the world. Democracy can take many forms, and there is no one-size-fits-all model or standard," Chen said.

Chen called for more experience sharing, deeper cooperation and promotion of common values of humanity at a time when mankind is challenged by the combined impact of unprecedented changes and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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