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Many countries that participated in a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva have praised China's tremendous achievements in the promotion and protection of human rights.
The 47-member Council on Monday examined China's human rights record according to its new Universal Periodical Review system.
Our reporter Wang Ling has more.
During the three-hour hearing, which was open to all UN member states, the Chinese delegation presented a report outlining the country's progress and challenges in the field of human rights.
Li Baodong, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Office in Geneva said that a fundamental social and political system for the promotion and protection of human rights has been established in China.
"China has helped its people solve the problems of food and clothing and gradually improve their livelihoods to a well-off level. Poverty-stricken population in rural areas has been hugely reduced from a quarter billion to the current 14 million and the per capita disposable income of urban residents has increased by 39 times, which made China the first country to achieve the target set by the UN Millennium Development Goals on poverty reduction."
Many delegations attending the hearing said they were deeply impressed by China's progress during the past 60 years, and particularly since the start of its reform and opening up in 1978.
Erlinda Basilio, Philippine ambassador to the UN Office in Geneva, noted China's achievement in poverty reduction and human dignity enhancement.
"Through enlarging employment and education, you have lifted millions out of poverty, thereby enhancing the human dignity and enjoyment of human right. Furthermore, the government has increased the investment in social security, especially to the needs of rural inhabitants and special groups. The government has also been responding to victims of the disastrous earthquake, providing assistance to over 9 million people in need."
Many deputies from developing countries expressed that they feel proud of China's achievement in the promotion and protection of human rights, and they also want to share experience with China and strengthen the cooperation.
Idriss Jazairy is the head of the Algerian delegation.
"We hope to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation with China and other developing countries in the field of human rights, and learn the advanced ideas from each other. "
During Monday's meeting, the Chinese delegation also answered questions and responded to recommendations from other states in an interactive dialogue.
Most deputies said the Universal Periodic Review mechanism is a platform for the world community to exchange experience and face challenges together.
Valery Loshchinin, Russia's ambassador to the UN Office in Geneva stressed that as every country has its own problems, dialogue should be the most proper way to solve problems.
"Western countries also have problems in their home. They have a lot of problems, and they are even more serious in some senses. So now we understand that these problems are very important to the international community and it's very important to work together."
The fourth session of the Universal Periodic Review was opened one week ago.
Over the next two weeks, the session will examine the human rights records of 16 countries, including China, Germany, Canada, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The Universal Periodic Review mechanism was established by the Human Rights Council in June 2007, one year after its first meeting. It involves a review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every four years.
By 2011, it will have reviewed the human rights records of every country.
WL, CRI news.
