MEPs turn spotlight on China

10th April 2008

WALES Euro-MPs Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan today joined their European Parliament colleagues in calling for China to end the brutal repression of Tibetan demonstrators.

The Labour MEPs voted for a resolution condemning human rights abuses in Tibet.

Speaking in Brussels, Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan also called on China to use the Beijing Games to open itself up to the world.

GLENYS KINNOCK said:

"China's human rights record - in Tibet, within its own borders, and in its continued engagement and arms sales in regions such as Darfur and Burma - is deplorable.

"The Chinese-EU political dialogue to be held on May 5th, ahead of the summer's Beijing Games, will be an unprecedented opportunity to press for progress. It will be a key test of whether the Chinese regime is really willing to commit itself to improvements in human rights."

ELUNED MORGAN added:

"At the moment, China is more open to international opinion than at any other time in living memory. We must use this opportunity to engage in constructive political dialogue and push for concrete improvements - in Tibet, throughout the country, and in China's relations with the wider world."

Notes

• The resolution on Tibet is available from
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&language=EN&reference=P6-RC-2008-0133