China, Mexico compare notes on human rights

Chinese officials met with their Mexican counterparts here Monday to compare notes on protecting human rights.

Huang Junxian, assistant director-general of the Human Rights Department of the Chinese State Council Information Office, led a Chinese delegation to a work meeting Monday with officials from Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry and National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), as well as academics from the Panamerican University.

"We presented practices, experiences and achievements in the field of human rights ... which serve to encourage both sides," Huang said at a press conference.

China's experience in protecting minority groups' rights to education via policies that grant them preferential admission to schools can in turn benefit Mexican policymakers, he said.

China's goal is to promote justice and social well-being by building "a society with equality," said Huang, noting that the report "Progress in China's Human Rights in 2014" shows China has raised living standards and made progress in guaranteeing individual rights.

"China is still a developing country, and to raise the level of protection of human rights, we still face more challenges," said Huang. However, the official said, "we are making progress."

New human rights policies in China are serving to protect the society's most vulnerable, such as the elderly, those with disabilities, women, children and minority groups, he said.

The latest global human rights report compiled by the U.S. State Department to guide congressional decision-making contains allegations against China that "are unfounded," Huang said.

Both China and Mexico, Huang said, have reiterated their interest in continuing to expand cooperation in the research and education of human rights. Endi