On July 4, 2023, Special Representative for Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Yang Xiaokun co-chaired the 12th China-Switzerland Human Rights Dialogue with Christine Löw, Deputy Head of the Peace and Human Rights Division of Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, in Bern, Switzerland. Also present were representatives from the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Justice of China, as well as Switzerland's Federal Department of Home Affairs, Federal Office of Justice, and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

During the dialogue, the Chinese side shared in detail its people-centered approach to human rights protection, and introduced visions and achievements related to Chinese modernization, whole-process people's democracy, ecological conservation and environmental protection, and China's active participation in global human rights governance. The Chinese side pointed out that issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, and Hong Kong are not human rights issues, but ones related to China's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. The Chinese side demands that Switzerland stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues. During the dialogue, the Chinese side also pointed out Switzerland's human rights issues, including racial discrimination, judicial injustice, and violations of the rights of refugees, immigrants, and vulnerable groups.

Both sides agreed that the dialogue has achieved the intended results of enhancing mutual understanding and managing differences.