The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Monday elected 15 new members to the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights, including the United States who last year lost out.

Zhang Yishan, deputy permanent representative of the China Mission to the UN, said China has been elected to the seat on the commission since 1982. The reason for this is that Chinese people widely acknowledge the importance of human rights and freedom, Zhang claimed.

He also added that the Chinese Government respects the general principles of the international community on human rights, and has made great efforts to promote and protect its people's human rights and fundamental freedoms.

On Monday, 15 people were voted onto the panel -- four in the African group, three in the Asian group, one in the Eastern European group, three in the Latin American and Caribbean group and four in the Western European group.

The United States, together with Australia, Germany and Ireland, were elected to seats on the commission reserved for members of the West European group of nations after Italy and Spain pulled out of the running.

Last year, the United States drummed up 29 out of 54 votes, the lowest among five candidates for the four seats, and was voted off the commission for the first time since the commission was established in 1946.

(China Daily May 1, 2002)