§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had concerning this year's UNCHR resolution to draw attention to China's record on human rights with the UN Human Rights Commissioner; and if he will publish a minute of the meeting. [34724]
§ Mr. FatchettThe Minister for State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd) discussed the European Union decision not to support a476W resolution on China at the UNCHR when he met the UN High Commission on Human Rights on 9 March 1998. We have no plans to publish a minute of that meeting.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made to him by Wei Jingsheng during their meeting of 11 March concerning his decision not to support this year's UNCHR resolution drawing attention to China's record on human rights. [34722]
§ Mr. FatchettAt their meeting on 11 March, Mr. Wei said that the EU dialogue with China had not produced positive results and spoke in favour of a CHR resolution. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary assured him that the UK and its EU partners remained totally committed to pressing for improvements in China's human rights record. We believed the dialogue-based approach offered the best prospects.