China and Australia Held 13th Talk on Human Rights Issues

China and Australia held their 13th dialogue on human rights in Beijing on Monday.

The two delegations updated each other on both countries' achievements in human rights issues and pledged to continue exchanges and cooperation in this area.

Wu Jia has the details.

During the talks, the two delegations exchanged views on broad topics, including civil and political issues, minority rights, lawyer rights and religious freedom.

Both express their willingness to continue their cooperation and exchange on human rights issues on the basis of mutual respect, equality and non-intervention in each other's internal affairs.

Heather Smith, deputy secretary of the Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Department and head of the Australian delegation, says China has become Australia's largest trading partner, which is a very significant economic relationship.

She says having built such a relationship makes it possible for the two countries to further exchange and cooperate on human rights and relevant issues.

"We have much that we can agree on and there are issues that we need to keep working on, but as the Minister Cui said earlier that it's the very breadth and depth of this relationship that does allow us to speak frankly on issues such as human rights."

Modernization and improvement in human rights conditions have always been the pursuit of the Chinese government and people.

Head of the Chinese delegation, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai says that for the past year, while ensuring stable economic growth, China has done much to improve its people's livelihood.

"We have adopted more proactive job polices and accelerated the improvement of our social security system and health care. Also, we are promoting equity in education and working in every possible way to stimulate agricultural products and increase farmers' income."

The China-Australia human rights dialogue was initiated in 1997 with the aim of enhancing mutual trust and seeking ways to cooperate.

The next talk will be held next year in Canberra.

For CRI, I'm Wu Jia.