THE 'New Decade, New Approach' agreement which restored Stormont proudly supports human rights.
It recognises the importance of "protecting the rights and identity of individuals" and says Stormont should "seek to build a society that reflects the best international standards of human rights".
When it comes to China, however, Northern Ireland's government has appeared more equivocal.
It took the Executive Office three attempts to produce a statement distancing the first and deputy first minister from the Chinese Consulate's account of their conference call.
When The Irish News first approached the department, it failed to deny the claim that Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill said they "understand and respect" China's draconian new security laws in Hong Kong, saying only that a 'courtesy call' took place.
Last night it said the consulate's report did not reflect the ministers' stances nor their comments during the meeting.
The ministers also distanced themselves on Twitter from the alleged endorsement.
It is still not clear whether Mrs Foster or Ms O'Neill raised any human rights concerns, such as China's mass internment of Uighur Muslims in detention centres.
For years Stormont has courted China for trade and investment, while during the Covid-19 pandemic it has also sought to secure PPE for health workers.
With its Northern Ireland bureau in Beijing and established education links, Stormont will likely want to smooth relations following this episode.
The pressure on Stormont to publish its minutes of the meeting may put the revived institutions to the greatest test.
The RHI inquiry highlighted serious concerns over government transparency, with senior officials admitting some minutes were not recorded as the DUP and Sinn Féin were "sensitive to criticism".
Stormont has so far resisted calls to release its record from the consulate meeting.
Whether its contemporaneous account is ever published, and if so how comprehensive it is, will be hugely demonstrative of what lessons have been learned from Stormont's three-year hiatus.
