Pressure increasing for EU not to back American draft resolution at UN on human rights in China

07/02/2000 (Agence Europe)

China has stepped up its pressure for the EU not to back the American draft resolution on human rights in China, at the March session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva. In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Assembly takes a stance against the resolution the European Parliament adopted in January. "We express our deep discontent and resolute opposition to the hostile decision of the European Parliament aimed at sidelining China", says the statement. The EP had, in particular, asked the Council to associate itself with the United States' resolution (see EUROPE of 24/25 January, p.9).

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister and head of delegation for the United States/China dialogue on human rights, Wang Guangya, protested virulently against the American draft resolution. In an interview published in "China Daily", Mr. Wang considers that "differences between developed countries and developing ones on human rights must not become an obstacle to relations, nor a matter for interference in internal affairs".

Whereas China has suspended its political dialogue on human rights with the United States since the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade last May, the EU has continued this dialogue, the next session of which will be held end-February.