This round of dialogue notably focused on the developments of the past year with respect to lawyers and human rights defenders in China and with recent legislation as well as the rights of minorities. Switzerland expressed its concern about these topics on the basis of concrete situations. Shared national and international challenges were also addressed.
Following the official talks, the Swiss delegation, headed by the Swiss Special Ambassador for Human Rights, Nicole Wyrsch, was received by Chinese Vice- Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Baodong. Separate meetings were also held with the Ministry of Justice, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and the Supreme People’s Court. The Swiss delegation also visited Ningxia Autonomous Region, where they met with local authorities and visited projects being undertaken as part of China’s minority policy.
The human rights dialogue between Switzerland and China was launched in 1991 and forms an integral part of the relations between the two countries.
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