The 60th United Nations General Assembly successfully elected on May 9 members of the newly created Human Rights Council. As a result of secret ballots of 191 UN members, 47 were elected as members to the Council, including China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Russia. A meaningful remark from press is that what were elected out are far more than seats.

The 146 votes to China indicates that human rights progress in the country has won recognition from most justice-holding countries in the world, and it cannot be denied by a few nations. On April 20 this year, Chinese President Hu Jintao said at a dinner party given by friendly organizations in the United States that China pays great attention to the human rights issue, has enshrined in the constitution that "the state respects and guarantees human rights" and has continuously pushed forward the human rights course during its social development.

This is a solemn promise China made to the human rights course of the world. Human rights conditions entered a new stage after the Chinese government put out the "people first" governance philosophy. China's election as a member of the Human Rights Council will surely help the Council in its work of promoting and protecting human rights in various parts of the world.

The U.S. didn't run for a seat in the Council, which leaves much room for interpretation. At the eve of the election, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that the U.S. would not participate because it is fairer to give a chance to the many competitive candidates. The act is worthy of savoring: among countries busily preparing for the election, the U.S., the only Security Council permanent member that didn't take part, seemed completely out of tune. Over years, the U.S. has been used to poking its nose into others' human rights affairs, but now it leaves the impression of going alone to set up its own system.

No matter how the U.S. explains, one thing is clear to the world: when the UN General Assembly voted March 15 on the establishment of the Human Rights Council, the result were 170 votes for, four against, and three abstention, while the U.S. was one voted against. Before the voting, the country criticized the draft by saying they "finally find the draft unable to help UN set up an effective Human Rights Council". Usually the American voice in international affairs finds many supporters, but this time only three countries echoed, leaving Washington looking more or less abashed.

The U.S. deliberate absence in the Council, some worry, may put the world's human rights course in trouble. In fact, when we look at the replacement of the widely criticized Human Rights Commission with the Council and its successful election, we may draw a conclusion: the U.S. dominance over human rights course of the world has gone forever.

The author Feng Chuangzhi is director of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation Bureau, Enping City, Guangdong Province.