FLASH: CHINA IS ELECTED AS MEMBER OF THE NEW UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON TUESDAY. (2006-05-09 23:50:18)

The UN General Assembly Tuesday elects the 47 members of the newly established Human Rights Council to replace the much criticized and now defunct Human Rights Commission. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

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. Enditem