China insists on dialogues on human rights ( 2003-12-10 22:13) (Xinhua)
China is consistently committed to conducting dialogues and exchanges on
human rights so as to enhance understanding, narrow differences, learn from each
other and make common progress, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang
said.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the Fifth Human Rights Seminar, jointly
sponsored by China, Canada and Norway, in Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan
Province, from Dec. 9 to 10, Shen said the seminars have become a channel
through which countries with different social systems and economic levels can
exchange views on an equal footing.
Shen said China will make joint efforts with other countries to strengthen
dialogues and exchanges based on equality and mutual respect, explore effective
ways to promote and protect human rights, and contribute to world human rights
development.
The seminars promote mutual understanding, and they reach consensus by
exchanging views on social obligations, women's rights, judicial assistance and
the protection of the human rights of prisoners.
Their consensus this time was as follows: The government, employers and
employees should make more efforts to enable companies to shoulder social
obligations in this era of globalization; to guarantee women's political and
economic rights, eradicate violence against women and crack down on other crimes
against them; all countries should carry out exchanges and cooperation in the
field of legal assistance that guarantees all citizens equality before the law,
and all countries should, through domestic laws, implement the prisoners' rights
stipulated in international documents on human rights.
Regarding the seminar as open, candid, constructive and fruitful, the
attendees also gave briefings on their policies, practices, achievements and
challenges in the above fields, and called on the international community to
actively participate in exchanges and cooperation to this end.
Besides the three sponsors, 15 other countries, including Vietnam, Thailand,
Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand, also attended the two-day seminar.
The First Human Rights Seminar was held in 1998 in Vancouver, Canada.
