Chinese Lawmakers Urge Early Ratification of Human Rights ConventionChinese lawmakers extended their appreciation Tuesday for the early ratification of an international convention on human rights, noting that the conditions are "mature."Lawmakers attending the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 9th National People's Congress (NPC) held Tuesday a panel discussion on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The State Council submitted a proposal in 1998 calling for the legislature to approve the international convention. Members of the NPC Standing Committee held that the Chinese Government has always abided by the international norms on human rights, and it has exerted every effort to improve and protect the rights and freedom of Chinese citizens. It has also actively promoted dialogue, exchange and cooperation in the international community in the field of human rights. Lawmakers said that the Chinese Government has always promoted the people's rights to subsistence and to development, which are the most basic ones among human rights, and it has given top priority to the improvement of people's livelihood and social stability. Lawmakers all agree that the main contents of the convention are consistent with China's relevant laws, regulations, practices as well as its objectives of reform, opening up and building socialism with Chinese characteristics. With the completion of the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000), the Chinese people as a whole has achieved relative affluence and other social undertakings have also seen all-around progress. This is the third time the lawmaking body reviewed the convention adopted by the United Nations on December 26, 1966, which is one of the most substantial international instruments on human rights. The Chinese Government signed the convention in 1997. |
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