Government and Policy

China keeps improving human rights with in'l community

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-19 17:43

BEIJING - The Chinese government has pledged to enhance international cooperation in human rights and make due contributions to the world human rights causes.

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"The Chinese people will, as always, enhance international cooperation in human rights and, with people from other countries, make their due contribution to the cause of world human rights and the building of a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity," Wang Chen, director of the State Council's Information Office, said at the opening ceremony of the Third Beijing Forum on Human Rights, which started here Tuesday.

Wang said that in the post-financial crisis era, it is important for officials, experts and scholars to reflect and discuss human rights and development from different perspectives.

Wang said promoting modernization and progress in human rights has always been, and always will be, a pursuit of the Chinese people and government.

"We will strive to promote scientific development and social harmony, implement the principles of respecting and safeguarding human rights, and strengthen international cooperation in human rights, to promote China's progress in modernization and human rights", he said.

In particular, during the 30 years of reform and opening-up, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have regarded respect for, and the safeguarding of, human rights as an important principle of governance, solemnly enshrining it into the Constitution of the CPC's and nation's constitution, Wang said.

From 1978 to 2009, China's GDP grew an average 9.9 percent per year, with per capital GDP growing 12 times as the economy leapt and people's living standards improved, he said.

China has stuck to its path of political development with Chinese characteristics, actively and steadily pushing forward the political restructuring while adhering to the rule of law and effectively safeguarding citizens' political rights and freedom through democracy and laws, Wang said.

In 2009, China's National People's Congress amended the Election Law to improve the country's electoral system and better incarnate equality among people, areas and ethnic groups, Wang said.

Citizens' rights to know, to participate, to express and to supervise were also promoted, Wang said.

The government also boosted transparency in administrative affairs with the implementation of the Regulation of Government Information Openness and an improved spokesperson system.

"The progress and development of the cause of human rights in China are obvious to all," Wang said. "Of course, we admit that as a result of a lack in development or unbalanced development, there are still unsatisfactory aspects to the condition of human rights in China."

"We are taking vigorous measures to promote the cause of Chinese human rights to achieve more," he said.

The China Society for Human Rights Studies sponsored the Beijing Forum on Human Rights. The theme of this year's forum is: "Human Rights and Development: Rethinking Concepts, Models and Approaches."

About 100 senior human rights officials and experts from 28 countries and China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and international organizations including the United Nations, joined their Chinese mainland counterparts at this year's forum.