China has long taken the initiative in engaging in exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the realm of human rights, according to a white paper issued on Tuesday.

It plays a constructive role in the United Nations human rights bodies, encouraging countries around the world to handle human rights issues fairly, objectively and non-selectively, says the white paper titled "Progress in China's Human Rights in 2012", which was released by the Information Office of the State Council.

China is constructively participating in UN human rights activities, says the white paper, adding that in 2010 and 2011, China constructively engaged in the review of the UN Human Right Council (HRC), and encouraged the UN General Assembly to adopt the HRC's resolution on the review.

China plays a constructive role by upholding the basic purpose and principles stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, performing its duties conscientiously, and proactively participating in reviews and discussions of human rights issues, the document says.

China has joined 27 international human rights conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and actively works for the approval of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the white paper says, noting that the Chinese government has taken active measures to guarantee the implementation of its obligations as stipulated by the international human rights conventions it has joined.

Moreover, China is taking an active part in formulating international human rights instruments and related rules, and working to increase mutual understanding and learning through dialogues on human rights with other countries, the document says.

In the past three years, China has held human rights dialogues with the United States, the European Union, Britain, Germany, Australia and Switzerland.

From 2010 to 2012, the China Society for Human Rights Studies has held the third, fourth and fifth sessions of the Beijing Forum on Human Rights, and the Forum has become an important stage for international human rights dialogues and exchanges involving both developing and developed countries, it says.

"Working closely with other countries, China will spare no efforts to promote the healthy development of human rights worldwide," it says. Endi