Media Report on Canadian Prime Minister Urging Hu Jintao to Improve Human Rights in China

Dow Jones Newswires reported on Friday that Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said Friday that he has had a "thorough" discussion on human rights with visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and made it clear that this is a "fundamental" issue for Canada.

Martin said at a joint press conference with Hu, "We believe that both economic development and better governance requires not only openness and transparency, but an understanding of the importance of human rights - both human rights in terms of governance of a country but also human rights in terms of the way that country is able to function."

Montreal Gazette reported on Friday that Hu Jintao came to talk trade, but Hu had to spend a lot of time defending his country's human-rights record.

"On Friday morning, Prime Minister Martin and Hu Jintao held a joint news conference. Hu Jintao faced a flurry of questions on human rights from Canadian journalists. Hu sidestepped one question by a Canadian journalist about the large demonstration that greeted the Chinese leader on Parliament Hill, which included members of the persecuted Falun Gong religious movement, as well as political dissidents who complained of torture and execution by China's Communist leaders.

"Hu defended China's human rights policies by saying that it is normal for Canada and China to hold different views on human rights because of differences in their cultures and histories."

Globe and Mail also reported that Mr. Martin said he told Mr. Hu that China's rocketing economic success and its increased leadership role in the world must be accompanied by continual improvements in human rights.