STORY: The right to development is a fundamental human right: Malagasy academic
DATELINE: July 14, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:05
LOCATION: Antananarivo
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Jean Eric Rakotoarisoa
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): JEAN ERIC RAKOTOARISOA, Former president of Madagascar's High Constitutional Court
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): JEAN ERIC RAKOTOARISOA, Former president of Madagascar's High Constitutional Court
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): JEAN ERIC RAKOTOARISOA, Former president of Madagascar's High Constitutional Court

STORYLINE:

The right to development is one of the most important and fundamental human rights, said Jean Eric Rakotoarisoa, former president of Madagascar's High Constitutional Court.

He hailed China's achievement in poverty reduction as a great success in human rights governance.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): JEAN ERIC RAKOTOARISOA, Former president of Madagascar's High Constitutional Court
"We have seen great success in human rights governance in China, putting an end (to extreme poverty) and substantially reducing poverty in China in a relatively short period of time."

The Malagasy academic recalled his visit to the countryside in China in 2008, saying he was impressed by the development in rural areas.

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): JEAN ERIC RAKOTOARISOA, Former president of Madagascar's High Constitutional Court
"For us, I think the priority is really the right to development, so that we can enjoy the other human rights. If you are in a situation of poverty and under-development, you will never really be able to enjoy other human rights, particularly economic and social rights, such as the right to work, the right to health and the right to education. If you don't manage to get out of poverty, you will never have these fundamental human rights."

He also spoke highly of how China ensured its rapid economic development while keeping environmental protection in mind, and expressed his interest in the Global Development Initiative proposed by China.

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): JEAN ERIC RAKOTOARISOA, Former president of Madagascar's High Constitutional Court
"Not only the development of one country, not only the development of China, but to push for the development of all countries. This could be positive for countries that are still developing, such as Madagascar and many African countries, which have great economic potential."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Antananarivo, Madagascar.
(XHTV)