China acknowledges human rights problems, but confident of prospect

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Chinese media) -- China's human rights development still had

"quite a few things less than satisfactory", but would see progress as the

modernization drive went on, a top official said here on Tuesday.

"Due to natural, historical, cultural and economic and social factors,

there are still many problems and difficulties in the development of human

rights," said Wang Chen, minister in charge of the State Council Information

Office.

In an interview with the Human Rights journal, Wang said China's political

and economic structural systems were yet to be improved, democracy and the legal

system remained to be perfected, and governments at all levels had to heighten

their awareness about protecting human rights and about exercising

administration according to law.

He admitted that the country's economic and social development was uneven

and the enlarging gaps between the urban and rural areas, between different

regions, and between the rich and the poor had not been brought under control.

Problems and difficulties were quite outstanding in areas such as

employment, social security, income distribution, education, medical service,

housing and production safety.

"All these will affect the immediate interests and rights of the people. It

is, therefore, a long-term and arduous task of the Chinese government and people

to continue and strengthen their efforts to promote and protect human rights,"

said Wang.

But he swiftly expressed confidence in the prospect of China's human rights

despite all the difficulties.

China had long put human rights high on the agenda for national

development, he said, and had pioneered a new path best suited to its national

conditions in human rights development focusing on "people first" policy and the

rule of law.

"I firmly believe that so long as we unswervingly implement the

constitutional principle of respecting and protecting human rights, constantly

improve democracy and the rule of law, our society will become more harmonious

and people will live a still better life and enjoy human rights to the full," he

said.