China admits it “still faces multiple problems and challenges” in protecting human rights

China admitted on Wednesday that it “still faces multiple problems and challenges in promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights” in the country, and that “there is room for improvement.”

The message, quoted by the Associated Press agency, was left this Wednesday in Geneva by Chinese Ambassador Chen XuChina’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), at a hearing on human rights.

The hearing, which will last until Thursday, is within the framework of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, reviewing the members of the international organization in the field of human rights.

Wednesday’s hearing in China lasted about six hours. Ambassador Chen Xu and a delegation of about 40 envoys representing China, Hong Kong and Macao participated. At the door of the building where the meeting took place there was a protest by demonstrators in defense of the minority Uigurfrom China.

Nobody can say that they have a perfect record of protecting human rights, because there is always room for improvement. China still faces multiple problems and challenges in promoting and protecting economic, social and cultural rights,” Chen Xu said, citing problems in areas such as education, employment, health care, housing and environmental protection.

In the audience’s opening speech, the Chinese ambassador listed a series of achievements of the countrynamely, reducing poverty rates and increasing average life expectancy in China.

Michael Windfuhr, deputy director of the German Institute for Human Rights and rapporteur for the hearings, acknowledged that “dealing with China in a six-hour hearing on the state of the country is a challenge for the committee” of the UN.

Questions addressed to the Chinese delegation were submitted by some 20 non-governmental organizations and groups and presented by a panel of independent experts working with the United Nations.