Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                     US, China Begin Human Rights Dialogue

   U.S. and Chinese officials discuss the sensitive topic of human rights
   during talks beginning Tuesday in southwest China.
   Washington and Beijing agreed earlier this month to hold the two-day
   U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue in Kunming, the capital of China`s
   Yunnan province.
   The U.S. State Department says the U.S. side will bring up the rule of
   law, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, labor rights, and the
   rights of ethnic minorities in China.
   The Chinese foreign ministry says the talks will include "candid and
   in-depth exchanges on the basis of equality and mutual respect in order
   to promote human rights development in both countries."
   The two countries have held regular human rights dialogues since 1990.
   China suspended the talks from 2002 to 2008 in response to U.S.
   criticism of its rights record at the United Nations.
   Some human rights groups have questioned the effectiveness of the
   dialogues, arguing they have become routine exercises in diplomacy and
   have achieved few results.
   Human Rights Watch on Tuesday urged Washington to use the latest talks
   to insist on benchmarks to ensure that Beijing follows through on its
   commitments to protect human rights.
   The group also encouraged U.S. officials to be more outspoken about the
   topics covered during the meetings. It said such details have been
   lacking following recent talks.
   The U.S. and China recently have held a series of high-level talks.
   President Barack Obama hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for an
   informal summit in June. In July, the two sides held an annual
   strategic and economic dialogue.
   Tuesday`s meeting marks the first formal human rights discussion since
   Mr. Xi took over the top spot in China`s Communist Party at a
   leadership transition that began late last year.
   Since the new leadership came to power, Human Rights Watch says there
   has been "little discernable or significant improvement" in China`s
   human rights record.
   Beijing has recently arrested activists who have called for government
   officials to publicly disclose their assets. Rights groups also say it
   is pursuing repressive policies toward Uighur and Tibetan minorities,
   as well as tightly restricting the free flow of information.
   China claims it has made progress in protecting its citizens` human
   rights, and rejects foreign criticism as meddling in its internal
   affairs.
   Following the strategic dialogue earlier this month, Chinese State
   Councilor Yang Jiechi said he hopes the U.S. can "view China`s economic
   and social development in an objective way." He also said he hopes the
   U.S. will improve its own human rights situation.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-china-begin-human-rights-dialogue/
   1712697.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-china-begin-human-rights-dialogue/1712697.html