bad_meetz_evil
04-06-2006, 07:20 AM
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao defended his nation's human rights record on Thursday, saying the communist state is promoting democracy as it opens up to the world.
"People are enjoying way more of the freedom and rights in choosing their jobs, moving their homes, traveling to other countries as tourists and choosing information," Wen told a news conference in the New Zealand capital after talks with Prime Minister Helen Clark.
He said China in recent years had lifted 200 million of its people out of poverty, and they are now enjoying a better life with more freedom.
"This is the biggest progress we have made, and as the saying goes -- anyone living in poverty has no freedom to talk about," Wen told reporters.
He admitted China has not been perfect "with regard to our human rights record. We have our shortcomings."
But "China is right now promoting democracy and moving forward with its political development," he said, noting that as this occurs, "Chinese people will surely enjoy more freedom."
China's government has long said that the most important human rights are the rights to food and shelter. More recently, it has acknowledged abuses by police and other local officials and promised to clean things up.
Amnesty International's New Zealand director, Ced Simpson, said there have been some human rights improvements in China, but for tens of thousands of people still in detention, "reforms can't come too soon."
Noting that torture has been condemned at an official level in China, he said evidence obtained under torture is still admissible in courts in many parts of China and allows "the violation of very basic human rights."
He said China is discussing democracy more, but as long as people are detained without charge, torture continues and China executes more people than the rest of the world put together, "the underpinnings of democracy ... still aren't there."
At their meeting, Clark and Wen agreed to speed progress in negotiations on a free trade agreement which began in November 2005.
They stressed they seek "a comprehensive, high quality" agreement and expect it to be completed "in one to two years." Wen noted the planned free trade deal would be China's first with a developed Western economy.
The two leaders also watched as a treaty was signed to aid customs and police "intensify their work together on organized crime," Clark said.
As Wen arrived at New Zealand's Parliament, about 50 protesters from the Falun Gong spiritual movement, banned in China, waved banners and protest signs.
Three Green Party lawmakers held a Free Tibet flag in a silent protest.
Green foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke said they were supporting Tibetan people denied political, social and religious rights by Beijing.
"People are enjoying way more of the freedom and rights in choosing their jobs, moving their homes, traveling to other countries as tourists and choosing information," Wen told a news conference in the New Zealand capital after talks with Prime Minister Helen Clark.
He said China in recent years had lifted 200 million of its people out of poverty, and they are now enjoying a better life with more freedom.
"This is the biggest progress we have made, and as the saying goes -- anyone living in poverty has no freedom to talk about," Wen told reporters.
He admitted China has not been perfect "with regard to our human rights record. We have our shortcomings."
But "China is right now promoting democracy and moving forward with its political development," he said, noting that as this occurs, "Chinese people will surely enjoy more freedom."
China's government has long said that the most important human rights are the rights to food and shelter. More recently, it has acknowledged abuses by police and other local officials and promised to clean things up.
Amnesty International's New Zealand director, Ced Simpson, said there have been some human rights improvements in China, but for tens of thousands of people still in detention, "reforms can't come too soon."
Noting that torture has been condemned at an official level in China, he said evidence obtained under torture is still admissible in courts in many parts of China and allows "the violation of very basic human rights."
He said China is discussing democracy more, but as long as people are detained without charge, torture continues and China executes more people than the rest of the world put together, "the underpinnings of democracy ... still aren't there."
At their meeting, Clark and Wen agreed to speed progress in negotiations on a free trade agreement which began in November 2005.
They stressed they seek "a comprehensive, high quality" agreement and expect it to be completed "in one to two years." Wen noted the planned free trade deal would be China's first with a developed Western economy.
The two leaders also watched as a treaty was signed to aid customs and police "intensify their work together on organized crime," Clark said.
As Wen arrived at New Zealand's Parliament, about 50 protesters from the Falun Gong spiritual movement, banned in China, waved banners and protest signs.
Three Green Party lawmakers held a Free Tibet flag in a silent protest.
Green foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke said they were supporting Tibetan people denied political, social and religious rights by Beijing.