A senior official from the State Council Information Office says China's action plan on human rights will help the country's economic, political and social development.

On Monday, the office released China's first National Human Rights Action Plan to safeguard human rights.

Wang Chen, the senior official from State Council Information Office says the action plan was framed in response to the United Nations' call in 1993 to establish a national human rights plan. However, as a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, China's human rights development may still face many challenges. But he believes the human rights cause in China will record a bigger progress.

Wang Chen, Director of State Council Information Office, said, "The national human rights action plan will greatly enhance the public's awareness to respect and protect human rights. It is also conducive to promoting the all-round development of the cause of human rights in China. It is helpful in the country's economic, political, cultural and social construction, and will largely propel the scientific development and promote the social harmony."

(CCTV April 15, 2009)