§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the timetable and process of review of the UK/China human rights dialogue. [135766]
§ Mr. BattleWe conduct formal sessions of the UK/China human rights dialogue twice a year. The next session is scheduled to take place in February 2001.
We keep the dialogue process under continuous and critical review. Our object is to develop the most effective way of helping to improve human rights in China. As far as the dialogue itself is concerned, we look for ways to make it more effective, and to identify areas where we can work with the Chinese to improve the observance of human rights in specific areas.
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§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government will reach a decision on sponsoring a resolution on human rights in China and Tibet at the 57 United Nations Commission for Human Rights. [135769]
§ Mr. BattleThe Government will review their position towards a resolution on China at the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (March 2001) following the next rounds of the UK/China and EU/China human rights dialogues, both scheduled to take place in February 2001.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK Government made to the troika concerning the human rights content of the EU/China summit. [135768]
§ Mr. BattleThe position taken by the troika on the question of human rights in China at the EU/China Summit on 23 October was based on discussions among partners in September ahead of the EU/China Human Rights Dialogue on 29 September. The Government play an active role in setting the direction for EU policy towards the human rights situation in China, including the identification of key concerns and strategy for meetings with the Chinese authorities.