On August 31, 2005, Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Louise Arbour signed in Beijing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Agreeing to Jointly Formulating and Implementing the Technological Cooperation Programs (the Memorandum of Understanding for short).

The Foreign Ministry signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the first round of cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the field of human rights in 2000 and in 2001 both sides signed the agreement on the second-phase cooperation. The related cooperation programs have all been completed successfully and both sides expressed satisfaction with the achievements. On this basis, both sides agreed to sign a new 3-year Memorandum of Understanding and carry out a range of cooperation programs in the areas of educating on human rights, enhancing capacity building and constructing a country governed by law.

Prior to this, Shen Guofang and Ms. Arbour held talks on the issues of human rights. Shen briefed on China's achievements in promoting and protecting human rights and international cooperation. Shen indicated that as a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, China mainly relies on its own force to push for the social development and progress of human rights and at the same time would like to learn from the good international experience. China will continue to conduct technological cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the principle of mutual respect, consultation on an equal footing and pursuit of tangible effects. Ms. Arbour made highly positive comments on China's progress in the field of human rights and the bilateral sound cooperation, noting that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stands ready to commit itself to the exchanges and cooperation with China in a more active and constructive manner under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding.

Bosh sides also exchanged extensive views on the reform of the UN in the area of human rights and other issues.