China, US begin new round of talks on human rights

Apr 27, 2011, 9:31 GMT

Beijing - China and the United States on Wednesday began a new round of their dialogue on human rights against the background of Beijing's crackdown on dissidents.

The two days of discussions will include 'extralegal detentions, and arrests and convictions, as well as rule of law, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, labour rights, minority rights and other human rights issues of concern,' the US State Department said.

China's Foreign Ministry had warned of 'interference in internal affairs on the pretext of human rights.'

The new round of talks was accompanied by calls from international human rights groups for the US to put more pressure on China.

The Hong Kong-based organization Chinese Human Rights Defenders said it was up to US diplomats to prove that the dialogue could be useful, despite earlier failures.

Michael Posner, assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labour, is leading the US delegation to Beijing.

Several prominent dissidents have disappeared since mid-February, while police have temporarily detained, harassed or placed under house arrest scores of others following anonymous online calls for peaceful rallies against the government.

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