BEIJING, Sept 21 – China on Tuesday welcomed a visit by a group of United Nations human rights experts dealing with arbitrary detention, saying it would give an objective view of the situation.
“I hope they will gain an all rounded and objective understanding of the development in China’s justice system and its … progress in human rights efforts,” said foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan.
He said China had always believed that “progress on human rights issues is in the interest of the international community” and stressed Beijing maintained close communications with human rights groups at the UN.
The working group, which began its mission on Sunday, is visiting prisons, labour re-education camps, psychiatric hospitals and police stations.
The trip will take in Beijing, the southwestern city of Chengdu and the Tibetan capital Lhasa and conclude on September 30.
The five experts led by Leila Zerrougui of Algeria expect to meet detainees and their families as well as regional and national officials.
The working group was set up by the UN Human Rights Commission to investigate allegations of arbitrary deprivation of liberty, which rights groups claim is widespread.
It is due to release a report on its visit to China at the annual assembly of the commission’s 53 member states next year.
