The Chinese government attached the greatest importance to
safeguarding people's health and other democratic rights, said
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing Saturday at a press conference
of the ongoing session of the Tenth National People's Congress.
According to the minister, top Chinese leaders and officials
from governments at various levels always stood in the most
dangerous areas in last year's anti-SARS campaign and made arduous
endeavor to help the people.
China's life expectancy has increased from the average 35 years
old in 1949 to last year's 71, a big improvement, said Li.
At present, the Chinese people are enjoying unprecedented
educational and democratic rights, which can not be separated from
legislation and judicial work. The minister quoted a short poem of
former Chinese Foreign Minister and Marshal Chen Yi to demonstrate
Chinese leadership's unswerving concern on interests of the
people.
"The conception that China is weak in terms of human rights is a
big mistake," said the minister, adding that those indifferent to
the world's poorest people "have a cold heart".
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2004)
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