Madam Chairperson,

Civil and political rights are important component of the fundamental human rights. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stipulates in its preamble that ?the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his civil and political rights?. The Chinese Delegation would like to make the following points on how to promote the enjoyment of universal and genuine civil and political rights of people.

Firstly, the overall realization of civil and political rights is a comprehensive engineering which requires the balanced development of economic, social and cultural rights at the same time. As enshrined in the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, ?all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated?. Economic growth can bring about openness of mind, advancement of civilization and social development. In recent years, China has taken substantive steps in the development of democracy and rule of law, with each step complementing China?s rapid economic growth. People living in relatively affluent areas have a stronger sense of law and are more aware of their rights as compared with those living in relatively backward areas. Rapid economic development is often accompanied with better enjoyment of civil and political rights. Therefore, in its efforts to further promote and protect civil and political rights, the international community must promote the all-round economic, social and cultural development of all countries. The cause of human rights can achieve balanced and comprehensive development only when the two categories of human rights receive equal attention.

Secondly, the realization of civil and political rights is a gradual historical process at which all countries are situated. The full realization of civil and political rights is a lofty aspiration of all mankind. It is also a historical responsibility from which no government can turn away. Constrained by such factors as levels of development, the developing countries have their inadequacies in the realization of civil and political rights. Blessed with better basic conditions, the developed countries nevertheless still have problems of this or that kind. The Chinese Government hopes that each country can look at its own inadequacies in an objective way and recognize the efforts made by other countries in the promotion and protection of civil and political rights with an eye on their development. In this world, each country has its advantages and disadvantages. There does not exist such thing as perfect. To claim oneself to be perfect can only turn himself into a laughing stock. Only through learning from each other to make up for each other?s deficiencies can we realize the full enjoyment of civil and political rights for all mankind.

Madam Chairperson,

By strengthening legislation, improving judicial system and promoting democracy, China is making unremitting efforts for the promotion and protection of civil and political rights of its people. The 16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party has put forward China?s objectives for the first two decades of this century, one of which is to further strengthen democracy and the rule of law and to protect the civil and political rights of the people. To improve democracy is to enrich forms of democracy, to increase the participation of the citizens in political life and to guarantee democracy for its people according to law. To improve the rule of law is to improve the quality of legislation, to promote the administration of justice and to deepen the reform of the judicial system. This objective of developing democracy and rule of law fully demonstrates China?s firm determination to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. To realize this objective, China is willing, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, to continue to strengthen its exchanges and cooperation with all friendly countries and organizations dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights in the common endeavor to promote the sound development of the cause of human rights.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.