Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen said Tuesday that it is natural that various countries have different views on the human rights issue owing to different national conditions, and confrontation is not the proper way of solving differences -- dialogue is better than confrontation.

He made the remarks in a meeting today with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, who is in Beijing for the Eighth Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Robinson thanked the Chinese government for hosting the gathering, and said she believes the workshop will help promote exchange and cooperation on the human rights issue among the Asia-Pacific countries.

She also spoke of the progress China has made in promoting and protecting human rights in recent years, and welcomed China's signing of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1997, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1998.

Robinson said that her office would like to cooperate with the Chinese government.

Qian said that in promoting and protecting human rights, action is more important than talk.

For China, a populous country, "we pay more attention to action," Qian said. The Chinese government has made effective efforts to fulfill people's economic, social and cultural rights and promote and protect their political rights in the past year, Qian said, adding that remarkable progress has been made in this regard.

China's human rights conditions are at their best in history, a fact that the entire Chinese people have been satisfied with and the international community has recognized, Qian said.

At the beginning of this year, China decided to step up the development of its western areas, Qian said, adding that the implementation of this strategy is significant for improving people's living standard there, and their capacity to enjoy all kinds of human rights. Therefore, China hopes for support from the international community in this regard, Qian said.

Qian said that the Chinese government has high praise for the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adding that China's relevant law-making organizations, governmental organizations and academic institutions have studied them and are making preparations for their ratification.

China has always supported the efforts made by the United Nations and the international community to promote and protect human rights, participated in U.N. human rights organization activities, and made contributions to international human rights cooperation, according to Qian.

The Chinese government takes a positive attitude toward cooperation with Robinson's office, Qian said. He expressed the hope that cooperation between the two sides based on equality and mutual respect will continue to grow.

He also praised the role of Robinson's office in the arena of international human rights, and said he hopes the office will contribute to promoting dialogue and cooperation for human rights.