(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-26 21:05

BEIJING - China is ready to resume human rights dialogue with the United States, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Tuesday after talks with visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice smiles at a news conference with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi in Beijing February 26, 2008. [Agencies]

"China is willing to keep contact with the United States in all areas ... we are willing to resume the human rights dialogue with the United States," Yang said.

He said that the Chinese people enjoyed extensive human rights and freedom of religious belief and were willing to exchange with the United States and other countries concerning human rights on the basis of mutual respect, equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Rice said: "It's important to resume human rights dialogue between the United States and China."

China suspended the human rights dialogue in 2004 when the United States decided to introduce a human rights motion related to China at the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.