China urges Australia to improve human rights situation

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Australia is advised to face up to its own human rights problems and take concrete measures to improve its human rights situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Thursday.

During a recent review held by the UN Human Rights Council, representatives from various countries criticized the human rights situation in Australia and made suggestions for it to improve. China's representative also put forward suggestions, she said at a press briefing.

According to Hua, China proposed that Australia should:

-- take actions to combat racial discrimination, hate speech and violence, and protect the rights of ethnic minorities;

-- safeguard the rights of immigrants and close offshore detention centers for immigrants;

-- thoroughly investigate alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in overseas military operations, hold the perpetrators accountable, end impunity and prevent similar crimes from happening again;

-- eliminate systemic discrimination suffered by indigenous Australians and combat violence against them;

-- and stop using false information to make politically-motivated and groundless accusations against other countries.

It is hoped that Australia will listen carefully to the opinions of the international community, face up to its own human rights issues, take actual measures to improve its human rights situation, and do something practical for the sound development of international human rights cause, Hua said.