China, US restart human rights dialogue in 2008

China and the United States have restarted the human rights dialogue after years' suspension.

The 14th China-US human rights dialogue was held in Beijing from May 24 to 28, the first such dialogue between the two countries since 2002, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

During the five-day dialogue, the two sides briefed each other on the progress in the human rights field, and exchanged extensive and in-depth views on such issues as freedom of speech, religious freedom, anti-racial discrimination and United Nations human rights cooperation.

The two sides agreed that the candid and frank dialogue was constructive and helped enhance mutual understanding and reduce divergence, said a release from the ministry.

They also agreed the dialogue was conducive to the sustained and sound development of bilateral ties.

The 14th dialogue was presided over by Director-General of the Department for International Organizations and Conferences of Chinese Foreign Ministry Wu Hailong and US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor David Kramer.

The 13th human rights dialogue was held in Beijing in 2002.

China suspended the dialogue in 2004 when the United States decided to introduce a human rights motion related to China at the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

China and the US agreed to resume the dialogue earlier this year after the visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.