China has made great achievements in promoting and protecting the economic, social and cultural rights, and is ready to cooperate with the international community to bring about the progressive and full realization of all the rights in this aspect, Chinese Ambassador Sha Zukang said in Geneva Friday.  

The review of China's initial report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has received broad attention both inside China and abroad, Sha said.

The covenant, one of the most important international human rights instruments, entered into force with respect to China on June 27, 2001.

Ambassador Sha is head of the Chinese delegation at a conference of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which is reviewing China's implementation of the covenant.

As a developing country, China has always been claiming that economic, social and cultural rights are as important as civil and political rights, said Sha.

The Chinese government has attached great importance and made huge efforts in preparing the report, which enhanced the international community's understanding to the situation in China, he said.

While reviewing the report, experts of the UN committee put up nearly 100 questions, concerning aspects of work, rest, labor union, food, housing, health, education, gender equality and so on.

They expressed strong interest in some of the hot issues in China today, such as agriculture and farmers, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of migrant workers, eviction disputes and AIDS.

The experts also asked questions concerning rights of disabled persons and of ethnic minorities, gap between rich and poor, and the impact of China's WTO entry to people's economic, social and cultural rights.

The Chinese delegation answered all the questions. "While explaining our efforts and achievements and clearing up their misunderstanding, we also made it clear that the Chinese government has determination, confidence and plans to make more efforts to promote the Chinese people's economic, social and cultural rights," said Sha.

After the dialogue with the Chinese delegation, the committee experts now have two weeks to discuss between themselves and give a review conclusion.

"We are expecting a just and objective conclusion from the committee, which is based on a full study of the materials provided by China," said the ambassador.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2005)