China confident in human rights development

Beijing says it has "full confidence" in its own model of human rights development and that the country will pledge to continue dialogues with Brussels in a press conference on Monday in Brussels.

Li Junhua, Director General for International Organizations and Conferences of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the press conference said that China has a clear understanding of how human rights can be developed.

"We are confident about our own model," Li said.

He also urged Europeans not to a one-size fits all mentality to judge China's humans rights.

Li stressed that on one hand China welcomes friendly positive feedback from international friends, but on the other hand China has its own specific system dealing with human rights.

"EU and China shall echo on the consensus that there is no best way, but only a better way in the world to develop human rights," he said.

In spite of this, Li also said Beijing is willing to continue human rights dialogues with Brussels in a "candid, sincere and open" manner.

"We accept all of the criticism within legal framework, no matter at home or abroad," the director general said.

Monday's dialogue is the 33rd round between Beijing and Brussels since 1995. It is the first time that both sides held a press conference after close-door exchanges.

"After sitting together for nearly 12 hours, we are happy to come to you for the first time," said Gerhard Sabathil, director for East Asia and the Pacific in European External Action Service (EEAS).

He added that EEAS and Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the willingness to send substantial feedback to the public, media, parliamentarians and member states both in China and Europe.

Sabathil said the two sides have exchanged deep and open views, addressed various core issues including those difficult and sensitive ones as well based on mutual trust.

"We discussed the minority rights particularly in Tibet and Xinjiang, freedom of expression, belief and religion, reform in Chinese Hukou system, " Sabathil said.