Full coverage: China 2012-2015 Human Rights Progress Review

China has called for international dialogue and cooperation on human rights. Chinese diplomat Ma Zhaoxu made the call at a meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. In a joint statement on behalf of 136 countries, he spoke of the need to abide by a number of principles in promoting human rights.

"We have reiterated the principles that should be followed in international cooperation of promoting and protecting human rights. These include abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN charter, respecting each nation's right to adopt their own development paths of human rights, respecting the sovereignty of all nations and adhering to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. At the same time, we call for more constructive dialogue and cooperation on human rights, abandoning the Cold War mentality and giving up confrontation so as to promote the cause of human rights in the world," Ma said.