A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Tuesday expressed the nation's "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition'' to US criticism of China's human rights conditions.
Spokesman Kong Quan told a regular briefing that the US State Department in its annual report on China's human rights situation "has made up stories, confused the right and the wrong, attacked China's judicial system, policies on ethnic minorities and human rights conditions.''
The US report has criticized China for repressing the religious freedom and limiting the rights of ethnic minorities in the excuse of a crackdown on terrorism.
Kong said the Chinese Government has devoted itself to the promotion and protection of human rights and basic freedom of its people.
He also called to attention the violation of human rights in the US.
"The US Government has turned a blind eye to the violation (in the US) while wantonly distorted the human rights conditions in other countries and made irresponsible remarks about their internal affairs,'' said Kong, terming it as having "ulterior motive.''
"The double standards adopted by the US on human rights and ethnic minorities will continue to be disdained and firmly opposed by people upholding justice worldwide,'' he added.
"We ask the US to respect the basic norms of international relations, correct the wrong practice and stop interfering in China's internal affairs using the excuse of so-called human rights issues.''
The spokesman also welcomed the dialogue between Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri and the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday.
Calling it a "positive'' sign, Kong reiterated China's stance that the Iraqi issue should be solved on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and through political and diplomatic channels.
Kong confirmed the friction between India and Pakistan was a topic during the bilateral consultations, adding both countries are working to ease tension in the region.
"We believe such consultations are very beneficial,'' said Kong.
Concerning the recent setback suffered by the US in its battles with the Taliban, Kong reiterated the importance of lasting efforts.
"China firmly supports the crackdown on international terrorism and backs international co-operation in the fight,'' said Kong.
Communique marked
Speaking at a reception Tuesday commemorate the 30th anniversary of the issuance of the Shanghai Communique, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Yang Jiechi said in Washington that Sino-US relations will develop on a healthy and steady basis if the two countries abided by the guiding principles of the three joint communiques and handled the Taiwan issue properly.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, one of the architects of the Shanghai Communique, said at the reception that the communique reflected the common interests of the two great countries.
Despite ups and downs, US-China relations had been moving forward as a whole during the past 30 years, Kissinger said, adding history would continue to prove the bilateral relationship would achieve greater development on the basis of mutual respect.
(China Daily March 6, 2002)
