Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed unswerving adherence to China's path of human rights development. Xi made the remarks while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Friday.

Xi called for more efforts to pay attention to, respect and safeguard human rights and better advance the development of China's human rights cause as the country has embarked on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist China. To respect and protect human rights is a persistent pursuit of the CPC, Xi stressed.

He said the country was making steady progress in better protecting Chinese people's rights to subsistence, development and other basic rights. The Chinese leader added that the government is supportive of all ethnic and religious groups, and is committed to protecting their legitimate rights and interests.