From February 23 to March 31, 2026, the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Peng Jianbiao, CEO for UN Consultative Affairs of the China Association for International Science and Technology Promotion and Executive Chairman of the International Regional Innovation and Standardization Alliance, attended the session as a representative with Special Consultative Status of the UN Economic and Social Council. He delivered a speech entitled A Systematic Approach to Safeguard Rural Drinking Water Safety during the General Debate segment. During this session, the Alliance highlighted its practical pathway of improving people’s livelihoods through standardization and responding to global challenges via regional innovation and cooperation.
Focusing on Drinking Water Safety: Standardization Empowers Rural Livelihood Improvement
On March 17, the China Non-Governmental Organizations’ International Exchange Association co-hosted with the Permanent Mission of China to Geneva the themed side event Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development: Addressing Human Rights Challenges with Science-Based Solutions. As a supporting organization, the Alliance took an active part in the event, joining nearly 100 participants including representatives, heads of NGOs, experts and scholars from more than 20 countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Russia, Switzerland and Vietnam.
In his official speech, Dr. Peng Jianbiao reviewed China’s three-decade transformation in rural areas from having access to water to accessing safe drinking water. He shared China’s practical experience in safeguarding rural drinking water safety through the coordinated advancement of standardization, institutionalization and technological empowerment. He noted that China has fulfilled relevant targets of the UN 2030 Agenda ahead of schedule, adding that ensuring rural residents have access to safe drinking water is the most down-to-earth embodiment of human rights. The Alliance has long been committed to promoting the alignment and interconnection of international standards in people’s livelihood sectors. The drinking water safety standardization case shared at the event vividly embodies the Alliance’s philosophy of standards serving the people.
Sharing China’s Solutions: Innovation and Collaboration Bolster Global Sustainable Development
At the themed side event, the Alliance representative shared China’s practices in safeguarding the right to health, the right to development and the right to the environment by boosting energy technological innovation and vigorously developing clean energy technologies. These practices cover the alignment of international clean energy standards, cross-regional technology transfer and innovation cooperation, offering replicable and actionable Chinese solutions for global sustainable development, which won high recognition from all participants. The Alliance stated that it will continue to leverage its platform strengths in international regional innovation and standardization to promote the implementation of more green technology standards across the Belt and Road and among regional partner countries.
Looking Ahead: Connecting the World via Standards, Enhancing Wellbeing Through Innovation
Dr. Peng Jianbiao pointed out that taking this participation as an opportunity, the Alliance will further deepen cooperation with UN mechanisms and relevant international organizations. Focusing on areas including artificial intelligence governance standards, clean energy technical specifications, and application guidelines for science and technology in people’s livelihoods, it will collaborate with domestic and overseas member institutions to foster a more inclusive and mutually beneficial regional standardization cooperation network.By means of standard mutual recognition, innovation resource sharing and capacity building, the Alliance strives to contribute to the advancement of global innovation and standardization, as well as the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
