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Human Rights In China Is Part of Obama's Discussions With President Hu

By Howard M. Friedman

Chinese President Hu Jintao is on a state visit to the United States.  At a joint press conference at the White House (full text), President Obama summarized his meeting with Hu, indicating that among the topics discussed was human rights, including religious freedom.  Obama said in part:

I reaffirmed America?s fundamental commitment to the universal rights of all people. That includes basic human rights like freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association and demonstration, and of religion -- rights that are recognized in the Chinese constitution. As I've said before, the United States speaks up for these freedoms and the dignity of every human being, not only because it?s part of who we are as Americans, but we do so because we believe that by upholding these universal rights, all nations, including China, will ultimately be more prosperous and successful.

So, today, we?ve agreed to move ahead with our formal dialogue on human rights. We've agreed to new exchanges to advance the rule of law. And even as we, the United States, recognize that Tibet is part of the People?s Republic of China, the United States continues to support further dialogue between the government of China and the representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve concerns and differences, including the preservation of the religious and cultural identity of the Tibetan people.

In the Q and A, reporters pressed President Hu on the issue of human rights, and Hu responded in part as follows:

China is always committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. And in the course of human rights, China has also made enormous progress, recognized widely in the world.

China recognizes and also respects the universality of human rights. And at the same time, we do believe that we also need to take into account the different and national circumstances when it comes to the universal value of human rights.

China is a developing country with a huge population, and also a developing country in a crucial stage of reform. In this context, China still faces many challenges in economic and social development. And a lot still needs to be done in China, in terms of human rights....

... [T]hough there are disagreements between China and the United States on the issue of human rights, China is willing to engage in dialogue and exchanges with the United States on the basis of mutual respect and the principle of non-interference in each other?s internal affairs....

Last week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom had written Obama urging him to publicly raise religious freedom issues with Hu.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 20, 2011 (boomark / email).