China, Canada and Norway will hold a symposium on human rights
at the end of this year for further cooperation in this field,
according to the Foreign Ministry yesterday.
The China-Canada-Norway Plural Symposium on Human Rights will
also invite more than 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific region to
participate, a senior official from the International Organization
and Conference Department said at the 9th China-Norway Roundtable
on Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Government officials and lawyers from the two countries held
in-depth and frank discussions on how to protect the rights of
workers, prisoners, detainees and minority groups during the
two-day meeting held in Beijing on June 8-9. Both sides also agreed
to hold the 10th roundtable in Norway next year.
Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said the human rights
roundtable has promoted mutual understanding and expanded the
consensus between China and Norway since it was founded in
1997.
The Chinese government has always made active efforts in
protecting Chinese people's human rights, and has learned advanced
concepts from other countries, Cui said.
He added China, as a newly elected member of the UN Human Rights
Council, will implement international human rights pacts and
obligations, and play a constructive role in international human
rights affairs.
State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Raymond Johansen spoke highly of China's achievements.
He said the roundtable has enhanced the cooperation between the
two countries in this field and also strengthened bilateral
relations, adding that Norway is willing to work with China to
further cooperate in human rights.
(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2006)