Foreign Ministry official Wu Hailong met in Berlin with his German counterpart Peter Wittig to discuss human rights issues during the 23rd round of the China-EU Human Rights Dialogue from May 15-16.

 

During the two-day dialogue the two sides respectively introduced their latest progress in the human rights fields.

 

Wu, director-general of the Department for International Organizations and Conferences of the Foreign Ministry of China, said that China has adopted a series of measures to enhance human rights protection by speeding up legislation on human rights, deepening judicial reform, ratifying the Property Rights Law and making government affairs public.

 

He stressed that the Chinese government has been striving to put into practice the outlook on development and to build up a harmonious society.

 

It is focusing efforts on resolving problems related to people's livelihood, in the areas of medical treatment, education, housing, employment and social security, he added.

 

Wu said that China is also making efforts to promote the construction of a democratic legal system and political restructuring.

 

Wittig, whose country is currently holding the EU presidency, introduced the EU's new measures to promote human rights, including bills on human rights promotion and guidelines passed by the European Parliament and the European Council.

 

The two sides also discussed issues regarding the reforms to the criminal justice system, freedom of opinions, protecting the rights of minority ethnic groups and migrant labor forces.

 

They also exchanged views on strengthening cooperation within the UN human rights mechanism.

 

Both sides said the dialogue was constructive. China and the EU agreed to continuously maintain the good trend of China-EU human rights dialogue and exchanges to promote mutual understanding and cooperation, as well as the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe.

 

The Chinese delegation also met with Reinhard Silberberg, state secretary of the German Foreign Ministry, and visited the Berlin Center for the Treatment of Torture Victims.

 

The China-EU Human Rights Dialogue, which began in 1997, is held every half year. The 24th round will take place in Beijing in the second half of this year.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2007)