A/HRC/31/75 • Inclusion policies to promote greater accumulation of quality human capital for the Afro-descendant population. That implied eliminating discrimination against Afro descendants, in such a way that they could improve their skills and compete on equal terms for positions of higher socioeconomic status, which was the basic principle in a meritocratic society • Inclusion policies in the labour market that would improve the employability of the Afro-descendant population • Inclusion policies for encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting productive initiatives • Inclusion policies to encourage and strengthen productive clusters where Afrodescendants had comparative advantages, drawn from their cultural particularities. That meant support for micro-, small and medium enterprises, which were based on their cultural frameworks • Social inclusion policies to strengthen public institutions and enable them to be transparent and efficient 50. During the discussion that followed, the representative of Brazil noted that poverty was both a cause and a consequence of discrimination, particularly racial discrimination. Development should not be narrowly defined as economic development but should also include political, economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects, consistent with international human rights instruments. The principles of participation, equality and nondiscrimination should be integrated into all development activities and programmes. The realization of human rights, including with respect to the fight against poverty and access to education, health, employment and political participation, had to be among the goals of development. Brazil recognized the challenges it faced concerning racism, as well as the importance of adopting public policies to overcome them. Affirmative measures, along with universal policies to eradicate poverty, had contributed to a significant decrease in income inequality between racial groups. 51. The representative of the European Union noted that the discussion on that topic was relevant, as the General Assembly had just adopted the new Sustainable Development Goals that would now determine the direction of global and national policies for the next 15 years. From a human rights perspective, the outcome document of the Assembly summit was very promising. It aimed at promoting a transformative, universal and human rightsbased development agenda. It was an agenda that should protect human dignity and contribute to the realization of human rights for all, without discrimination of any kind. In fact, several of the new Goals had key human rights components and several of the targets adopted a human rights-based approach. That marked a significant evolution compared to the Millennium Development Goals: It was now recognized by all that the new development agenda could be sustainable only if it were firmly anchored in human rights. The European Union started a similar approach some years ago when it launched its own internal process of truly integrating human rights into its own development cooperation activities — in fact, into all of its external actions. 52. The representative of China noted that poverty in China had been significantly reduced, in particular the poverty of the rural population. More than 60 per cent of the global reduction in poverty was due to the reduction of poverty in China. The Government of China was currently drafting the next five-year poverty reduction programme. China had also cooperated with others on global poverty reduction and had provided assistance to a variety of countries in order to reduce poverty. China would also give 0 per cent loans for small island developing States, least developed countries and landlocked developing countries. That approach emphasized South-South cooperation. Poverty, the Chinese representative concluded, contributed to social problems, including racism. 13