China, as a newly-elected member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, pledged on May 10 to fulfill its obligations under the terms of international human rights accords.

    The UN General Assembly on Tuesday elected 47 members to the newly-created Human Rights Council through three rounds of secret ballot. China was elected to the council with 146 votes.

    "The Chinese government has always been committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and basic freedoms," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao here Wednesday.

    The country has been actively involved in the promotion of human rights, he added.

    "China supports the foundation of the UN Human Rights Council, and has made positive contribution to this end," Liu acknowledged.

    As a member of the council, Liu noted, China will promote human rights within its territory and work with other members of the council.

    China supports the council's efforts in handling human rights issues fairly, objectively and impartially, said Liu, adding that China values the political, economic, social and cultural rights of citizens.

    The country also pledged to promote dialogue and cooperation between different civilizations, cultures and religions, the spokesman said. Enditem

China pedges to uphold human rights on U.N. council

   BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Tuesday pledged that if elected to the U.N. Human Rights Council, it would help reinforce efforts to promote and protect human rights worldwide.

   Sixty-four countries, including China, are running for the 47 seats on the new U.N. Human Rights Council in Tuesday's election in the U.N. General Assembly.

   "The Chinese government has always been dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights and basic freedoms and has participated in international dialogue and cooperation on human rights," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

   Liu said the government supported the council's efforts at handling human rights issues fairly, objectively and impartially, and in promoting constructive dialogue and cooperation among different civilizations, cultures and religions.

   Under U.N. rules, to ensure global representation, Africa and Asia will each have 13 seats; Latin America and the Caribbean eight seats; Western Europe (including the North American and Oceanian developed nations), seven; and Eastern Europe, six.