US criticism on human rights unreasonable
By Qin Chuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-03-09 23:43

It is unreasonable for the United States to criticize China's human rights status, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Tuesday.

The US House of Representatives recently passed a resolution calling for a US proposal attacking China's human rights status at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights this year.

"It is a commonly recognized fact that the Chinese Government has been devoted to the protection of human rights and basic freedoms and has made great achievements," Liu said during Tuesday's regular briefing.

Dialogue and co-operation are the only ways through which the two sides can resolve their differences on human rights, he said, adding that there will be no way out if antagonism is resorted to.

Shifting his attention to Iraq, where the country's Governing Council signed an interim constitution on Monday, Liu said China welcomes the move.

China hopes the constitution can play a positive role in propelling Iraq's political reconstruction and rebuilding order in Iraq which can be helpful for the Iraqi people to resume their sovereignty, he said.

Speaking of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) demand that US troops retreat from the Korean Peninsula, Liu said the DPRK's security concerns are at the core of the issue.

China believes that achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula also involves dealing with the reasonable concerns of the DPRK over its security, he said.

In another development, Liu reiterated China's nuclear co-operation with other countries is based on the principle of co-operation for peaceful purposes and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He said nuclear techniques cannot be transferred to another country without China's permission during such co-operations, he said, in response to questions on the China-Pakistan agreement to build a nuclear power plant in Pakistan.

Liu said, Vice-Premier Wu Yi will visit Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Maldives during March 17 and 29.

Another visit will be carried out by Javier Solana, secretary general of the Council of the European Union and High representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. He will pay an official visit to China during March 16 and 17.

Close

Today's Top News     Top China News
Pakistanis may be near bin Laden's aide al-Zawahri         Government relaxes control of airfares, finally         U.S. launches WTO complaint against China         Report: China, Iran sign US$20b gas deal         FM to pay official visit to DPRK         women bosses urged to date and marry	FM to pay official visit to DPRK       As kids keep on calling, experts worry       Gov'ts urged to clear up payments in arrears       Sino-US trade advances amid problems       Police website builds bridges to community       Drought worsens capital water crisis