Washington: Vice-President Joe Biden met
Chinese experts and discussed "deterioration" of human rights
situation in China, prospects for reform and recommendations
for US policy.
The meeting in White House is significant as it took
place ahead of the visit of the Chinese Vice-President Xi
Jinping next week.
The four experts and advocates on human rights and legal
reform in China whom Biden met are Xiaorong Li, Professor
Benjamin Liebman, Kenneth Roth and Jianying Zha.
"They discussed the deterioration of China's human rights
situation, prospects for reform, and recommendations for US
policy," the White House said.
Biden underscored the Administration's belief in the
universality of human rights and its commitment to human
rights as a fundamental part of US foreign policy.
"He reiterated his view that greater openness and
protection of universal rights is the best way to promote
innovation, prosperity, and stability in all countries,
including China," the White House said.
Earlier, Biden had called up his Chinese counterpart Xi
over phone ahead of the latter's US visit next week.
Following up on their discussions during Biden's August
trip to China, the two previewed the agenda for Xi's visit to
the US next week - including a broad range of economic and
trade issues and regional and global developments, the White
House said.
"Biden emphasised the importance of building a US-China
relationship that addresses practical issues important to both
countries, and expressed support for efforts during Vice
President Xi's visit to further develop bilateral
cooperation," the White House had said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 09, 2012, 22:41