China on Monday resolutely rejected the "baseless accusation" made by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, voicing opposition to the politicization of human rights issues. 

Bachelet last Friday at the Human Rights Council said China was restricting basic civil and political freedoms. Referring to China's Xinjiang region, she also said there was a need for a thorough and independent assessment of the situation. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a regular press conference expressed regret and stern opposition to Bachelet's remarks, urging not to interfere in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

Saying Bachelet succumbed to political pressures, the spokesperson said the accusation was made based on incorrect information. 

The freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration and of religious belief enjoyed by Chinese citizens in accordance with the law have been fully protected, Wang said. 

He also pointed out public advice and suggestions were solicited online when formulating China's 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP), which demonstrates the practice of the socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. 

"Over one million comments were received, and authorities sorted out more than 1,000 suggestions from netizens." 

When calculated in accordance with China's current poverty line, the country has lifted 770 million rural residents out of poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of the global total based on the World Bank's international poverty line, Wang noted. 

He added, "This is the achievement of China's human rights cause, but also an important contribution to world's human rights development cause." 

It is the people of a country that have the biggest say in the quality of human rights there, Wang pointed out, adding that surveys conducted by relevant international authorities show that over the years, the Chinese people's overall support for the Chinese government under the leadership of the Communist Party of China has been over 90 percent on average. 

According to Wang, a survey conducted by a Singapore's research agency shows that of the 23 countries and regions in the world, Chinese mainland ranks first in public's level of satisfaction with government response against COVID-19. 

Wang reiterated that "the door to Xinjiang is always open," adding that "we welcome the High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Xinjiang and both sides have been in communication on that." 

He also stressed the purpose of the visit is to enhance bilateral exchange and cooperation rather than carry out "investigations" with the presumption of guilt.  

"We firmly oppose any political maneuvers to press China on this matter," Wang added. 

(Cover: A culture and tourism festival themed on Dolan and Qiuci culture in Awat County of Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, October 25, 2019. /Xinhua )