Schröder Stresses Human Rights During China Visit

During an official state visit, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder spoke out in favor of human rights in China on Monday.

In a speech to students from Tongji University in Shanghai, Schröder said European history had shown that peoples must agree on common values. "Above all [they must agree] on the conviction that the fundamental responsibilities and rights of the individual are not granted by the state, but are inalienable," Schröder emphasized. The state must also safeguard the rights of the individual, the chancellor added.

Schröder also criticized the Chinese political system -- at least indirectly. He said that people who create wealth must not only receive a fair share of prosperity but also be able to take part in societal decisions. The economic successes in Germany and Europe were based largely on applying these principles, he told his audience.

Openness necessary

"In the long term, innovation and economic growth are only possible in an open society," Schröder insisted. He added that society profits from the unrestricted exchange of information. "A free Internet promotes the economic, scientific and societal development of any country. And I stress: of any country," he said.

Human rights organizations, like Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, frequently criticize China for reported human rights abuses -- from increasingly imposing the death penalty to restricting the use of the Internet. According to Reporters Without Borders, 35 "cyber dissidents" are currently imprisoned in China for circulating information via the Internet that was considered unacceptable to Chinese authorities. Schröder's speech also comes on the heels of an announcement by the Chinese government that it will close 3,300 Internet cafes for "safety" reasons in the wake of an Internet cafe fire that killed 25 people in June.

Gerhard Schröder's comments came during his acceptance speech after being awarded an honorary doctorate from Tongji University. It is the first such distinction he has received.

The German leader arrived in Beijing with a delegation of 100 members on Sunday for a three day state visit to China. On New Year's Day, he and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji will take the inaugural ride on the Chinese-German Transrapid train line which will connect Shanghai with its international airport.