China decries US criticism of its rights record
Friday, 27 February 2009
BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters): China denounced Thursday US criticism of its human rights record in an annual tit-for-tat exchange, saying the United States should put its own house in order first.
The US State Department sharply criticised China Wednesday, saying detention and harassment of dissidents, petitioners, human rights defenders and defence lawyers peaked around high-profile events such as the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
China's Foreign Ministry said China maintained a high level of "protection and respect" for human rights.
"Over the 30 years of development and reform we have seen a constant development of the economy, religious freedom has been protected, and all of China's ethnic groups increasingly have more and more freedom and rights," spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a news conference.
The US State Department sharply criticised China Wednesday, saying detention and harassment of dissidents, petitioners, human rights defenders and defence lawyers peaked around high-profile events such as the Beijing Olympic Games in August.
China's Foreign Ministry said China maintained a high level of "protection and respect" for human rights.
"Over the 30 years of development and reform we have seen a constant development of the economy, religious freedom has been protected, and all of China's ethnic groups increasingly have more and more freedom and rights," spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a news conference.