China on Sunday published a white paper on its progress in the field of human rights over the past 70 years.

The white paper, titled "Seeking Happiness for People: 70 Years of Progress on Human Rights in China," was released by the State Council Information Office.

"Living a happy life is the primary human right," the document said, adding that China regards the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights and has been improving the rights of its people in a coordinated manner since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, especially after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012.

Seventy years ago, under the leadership of the CPC, the people of China were emancipated and became masters of their country.

Over the past seven decades, the Chinese nation has stood up and grown prosperous and is becoming strong; all basic rights of the people are better respected and protected, and China has made a regular contribution to the international cause of human rights, the white paper said.

China has opened a new path of human rights protection based on its national conditions, and increased the diversity of human civilizations, it said. 

China continues to improve people's living standards

In China, the world's largest developing country, people's living standards have been continuously improving, said the white paper.

Upholding the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and fundamental human rights, China strives to enhance people's wellbeing through development to better protect their human rights, said the white paper.

It listed an array of achievements, including effectively guaranteeing the right to food, the elimination of absolute poverty, markedly improved living standards, safe drinking water, improved housing conditions, more convenient public transport, better health for the people, improved social assistance, as well as enhanced postal and telecommunication services.

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China ensures its people enjoy their rights

China effectively ensures its people enjoy their rights, said the white paper.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has continued to improve the protection of the people's economic, political, social, cultural, and environmental rights, said the white paper.

Personal rights and dignity are well respected and protected, workers' rights are fully safeguarded, a social security system that covers the largest population in the world has been established, universal education expands remarkably, and public cultural services benefit more people, according to the white paper.

Chinese people enjoy real democracy, the white paper said, adding that China protects people's rights to know, to participate, to express, and to supervise.

The freedom of religious belief is protected in accordance with the law, and environmental rights are also better protected, according to the white paper.

Rights of special groups well protected in China

The white paper also said the rights of special groups have been well protected over the past 70 years in China.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, targeted measures have been taken to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minority groups, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, ensuring their equal status and giving them the equal opportunity to participate in social life, said the white paper.

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China effectively guarantees the rights of ethnic minority groups in administering state affairs, enables the ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas to leapfrog in social and economic development, as well as education, the white paper said.

The freedom of ethnic minorities to use and develop their own spoken and written languages is fully protected, their cultural heritage and relics are effectively protected, and religious freedoms of ethnic minority groups are protected, according to the white paper.

China has improved the protection of women and children's rights to health, and women's rights to participate in the administration of public affairs and social and economic development, the document said.

The mechanisms for protecting the rights and interests of the elderly is improving, it said.

China has also improved the social security system for people with disabilities, made rehabilitation universally available to them, ensured their right to employment and given strong support to creating an accessible environment and providing assistive appliances, the white paper said.

China strengthens rule of law for human rights

China has continuously strengthened the rule of law for human rights, said the white paper.

It said that after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the socialist rule of law was established to protect human rights by law.

Noting that a relatively complete legal system to protect human rights has been established in the country, the white paper said China upholds law-based governance, law-based exercise of power, and law-based government administration.

To promote social fairness and justice, China has endeavored to ensure that a well-conceived approach is taken to legislation, that the law is strictly enforced, that justice is impartially administered and that the law is observed by everyone, the white paper said. 

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China has built a service-oriented government with limited powers and clear responsibilities, the white paper said.

Efforts have been made to ensure independent and impartial exercise of judicial and procuratorial powers, guarantee the right to fair trial for all parties and the legitimate rights and interests of criminal suspects, defendants, prisoners, patients abstained from drugs and people released after serving their sentence, the white paper said.

The system of right remedy and assistance is being improved, quality and more convenient public legal services are being provided, public awareness of legal protection of human rights is enhanced and corruption is being fought to safeguard people's interests, it said. 

China fully participates in global governance of human rights

The white paper also noted China fully participates in the global governance of human rights.

China has been active in UN human rights undertakings, fulfills its international human rights obligations, conducts extensive international cooperation on human rights, actively offers Chinese wisdom and solutions for global governance of human rights, and advances through concrete actions the global governance of human rights in a fairer, more rational and inclusive direction, said the white paper. 

China also advances the international cause of human rights, said the white paper. 

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, in addition to advancing the human rights of its people, the country has earnestly supported the just cause of other developing countries to break free from colonial rule, achieve national independence, and eradicate racial segregation, said the white paper.

China has helped the developing countries to build up their capacity for development and provided the countries with development assistance and humanitarian relief, making a great contribution to safeguarding world peace and development and furthering the international cause of human rights, the white paper said.

(With input from Xinhua)