On 15/16 May 2007 the European Union and the People's Republic of China held the 23rd round of the "EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights" in Berlin.
The Dialogue was held in an open and constructive atmosphere and addressed a number of differences of opinion with regard to the implementation of international human rights standards in the People's Republic of China and the EU.
Key issues for the EU were China's ratification of the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; reform of the criminal justice system – including the death penalty and the re-education through labour system -; freedom of expression and freedom of the press as well as minority rights in Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. With regard to the human rights situation in the EU, protection of migrant workers as well as legal regulations on freedom of expression and freedom of the press were discussed. Concerning cooperation in international organisations, the composition and the institution-building process of the new Human Rights Council played a central role. The EU called on China to cooperate in human rights fora on urgent human rights situations, for example in Darfur and Myanmar.
Among the key issues discussed, the EU welcomed a number of reforms initiated in the judicial sector in China as well as efforts underway to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. The EU however expressed continued concern about various aspects of the civil and political rights situation in China, in particular the question of the lack of fair trials; the still exorbitantly high number of death penalty sentences; problems in connection with organ harvesting as well as restrictions on and arrests of human rights defenders and journalists.
The Chinese Delegation also met State Secretary Reinhard Silberberg of the Presidency's Foreign Office. Especially in view of the upcoming Olympic Games, State Secretary Silberberg called on China to release all remaining Tian An Men prisoners and to continue improving its human rights record, in particular with regard to the death penalty; the re-education through labour system and freedom of expression. Finally, he encouraged China to swiftly ratify the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In addition to the official talks the two delegations visited the "Berlin Centre for the Treatment of Torture Victims".
The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue is normally preceded by a Legal Seminar which opens up the dialogue process to academics and civil society from China and the EU. As the Chinese refused to accept the participation of two EU-nominated NGOs, the Seminar regrettably did not take place.
The "EU-China Human Rights Dialogue" has, with short interruptions, taken place bi-annually since 1995. The next regular meeting will be held in the second half of 2007 in Beijing under the Portuguese Presidency.
