China's protection of human rights differs from West

New Delhi, Apr.22 : A Chinese expert has said that his country's human rights' development differs distinctly from those in Western countries.

Luo Haocai, the president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, claimed that China is on a path of human rights' development with Chinese characteristics.

Luo, the China Society for Human Rights Studies director, told the inaugural Beijing Forum on Human Rights on Monday that "China believes human rights like other rights are not 'absolute' and the rights enjoyed should conform to obligations fulfilled."

"The country deems human rights not only refer to civil rights and political rights, but also include the economic, social and cultural rights," he said, "these rights are inter-related," he added.

In the past 30 years, China's progress in economic, social welfare, education and culture are easily recognized, but big progress in the rights listed in International Convention on Civil and Political Rights were often ignored, he said.

After 30 years of development, Chinese have enjoyed unprecedented freedom and basic human rights, including religious freedom and political rights, he stressed.

"At the same time, China maintains that human rights are not only the rights enjoyed by individuals but also the collective.

"The country values the protection of individual human rights, but also the collective human rights, which is an important reason for China's stability, social harmony and people's freedom," he said.

Wang Chen, Information Office of the State Council director, said "human rights development is a gradual process".

ANI