§ 23. Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his policy of constructive dialogue with the Chinese authorities in respect of human rights. [141984]
§ Mr. BattleSince the policy of critical dialogue started in 1997, there have been five formal dialogue rounds supplemented by regular ministerial contact with the Chinese. The dialogue has enabled us to raise our concerns on human rights directly and frankly with the Chinese, in a depth that was not possible before. It has also led to an increasing flow of information on issues related to the human rights situation, including on individual cases of concern. The dialogue facilitated the operation of a programme of human rights and legal co-operation projects, designed to improve conditions on the ground in China.
119WSince the start of the dialogue there has been increasing participation by China in international human rights mechanisms. China has signed both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and we believe will soon ratify the latter. China is now co-operating more closely with the UN Commissioner on Human Rights.