A Chinese delegation of human rights researchers on Friday had a detailed exchange of views on human rights issues with its French hosts during a four-day visit.
The delegation, led by Luo Haocai, vice chairman of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, provided a broad introduction to the great progress the People's Republic of China had achieved on human rights since its founding 60 years ago, especially over the 30-year period since the adoption of the reform and opening-up policy.
The delegation expounded China's views and positions on human rights, and expressed its willingness to further promote exchanges and cooperation on human rights between the two countries.
During a meeting with Michel Forst, secretary general of the National Consultative Commission of Human Rights in France, Luo, also president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS), said human rights exchanges between China and France were to be deepened and extended as the two countries' friendship developed. The two sides could promote mutual understanding and broaden common ground in the communication process to better contribute to the world's human rights cause and world harmony.
Forst lauded China's human rights progress made concurrently with remarkable economic achievements, and said he was impressed by the universality and effectiveness of the work of the CSHRS.
Forst said he believed China would have much more influence in international human rights affairs along with the further promotion of its international status.
When talking with Pierre Bercis, president of New Human Rights League, Luo said China's theory and opinion of human rights was based on the principles of international human rights combined with China's own situation.
China stressed the unification of the universality and speciality of human rights, emphasized the right of survival and the right of development as the two basic human rights, encouraged equal communication and cooperation on international human rights, and opposed confrontation on human rights issues, Luo said. Pierre Bercis agreed with Luo's opinion.
While meeting Francis Verillaud, deputy president of Institute of political sciences of Paris, Luo hoped Chinese and French universities could strengthen exchanges and cooperation on human rights research, especially on human rights law, as a comprehensive law was the basis of human rights protection.
After the visit to France, the Chinese delegation will visit Belgium, the EU headquarters and Iceland.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2009)
