Sino-Swiss human rights talks held in Bern

Human rights dialogue between Switzerland and China has taken place in Bern “in an open and constructive atmosphere”, according to the foreign ministry.

Particular emphasis was given to the status of minorities, it said in a statement. The two-day discussions also focused on various cooperation projects, for example on the dimension of human rights in the economy.

Switzerland and China have been conducting a human rights dialogue since 1991 with the aim of encouraging an improvement of the human rights situation.

The discussions focused in particular on issues such as the death penalty, torture, the status and situation of minorities in Switzerland and China, freedom of religion, as well as on issues related to detention in the two countries.

The parties agreed to continue a number of cooperation projects, such as an exchange of experts in the field of the administration of punishments as well as on the dimension of human rights in the economy.

swissinfo.ch and agencies


(2011-3-11/swissinfo.ch)