篇章翻译：
The Chinese government always respects thepurpose and principle of the Charter of the UnitedNations for promoting and protecting human rights, supports the UN efforts in this regard and activelyparticipates in the UN activities in the realm ofhuman rights. //
The Chinese government has always attached greatimportance to the positive role of internationalconventions on human rights in promoting andprotecting human rights, and has approved or acceded to 18 such conventions. China hasalways taken seriously those international conventions on human rights it has ratified, adoptedvarious measures to fulfill its duties under these conventions and submitted timely reports ontheir implementation, as stipulated by related conventions, for deliberation and discussionby related UN organs. //
China attaches importance to the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for HumanRights in promoting and protecting human rights, and has actively cooperated with the UnitedNations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. China has actively carried outcooperation with the special rapporteurs and working groups on thematic issues of the UNCommission on Human Rights. It has twice invited the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ofthe UN Commission on Human Rights to visit China, and the Special Rapporteur on ReligiousIntolerance has also visited China on invitation. //
China has, in a timely and earnest manner, answered the letters on human rights transmittedby the special rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights and other UN human rightsmechanisms, clearing up a number of facts and helping the UN and international communitytoward a better understanding of China. In addition, China and the UN Development Programalso jointly sponsored an international symposium on the problem of cults, to carry outexchanges and explore on how to deal with cults and safeguard human rights by variouscountries. //
China has consistently advocated carrying out dialogues and exchanges by all countries on thehuman rights issue on the basis of equality and mutual respect so as to enhanceunderstanding,promote consensus and reduce differences. In October 2000, Chinasuccessfully held the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation -- Ministerial Conference Beijing 2000 in Beijing, with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and four heads of state from Africa, nearly 80 ministers from 45 African countries and leaders of related international and regionalorganizations attending. //
In the Sino-African Cooperative Forum Beijing Declaration adopted at the meeting, it isemphasized that the principle of universality of human rights and basic freedoms should berespected, and the diversity of the world and the principle of seeking common ground whilereserving differences must be safeguarded; that each country has the right to choose differentways and modes of promoting and protecting human rights domestically; and that politicalizingthe issue of human rights and attaching human rights conditions to economic aid arethemselves violations of human rights, and therefore should be firmly opposed. //
The progress of human rights is an important aspect of the social development of all countries, and it is a historical process of continuous advance. China is a developing country with a hugepopulation. Due to restrictions of nature, history, level of development and other factors, thehuman rights cause in China is in the process of developing, and there is still much room forfurther improvement in its human rights situation. //
In the light of China's national conditions and according to the people's wishes, the Chinesegovernment aims to build a democratic and modernized country with a high level of civilizationunder the rule of law, actively learn from the beneficial experiences and cultural achievementsof other countries, and, while maintaining social stability, expedite development, strengthenthe democratic and legal systems, promote social ethical progress, and continuously pushforward the development of the human rights cause in China. At the same time, China will, asalways, actively participate in international activities in the realm of human rights, carry outwide-ranging cooperation and exchanges with other countries, and make its due contributionto promoting the healthy development of the international human rights cause. //
(Excerpts from the English version of Progress in China’s Human Rights Cause in 2000 releasedby the Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on April 9, 2001)
