China to Discuss Resuming Human Rights Talks with United States

According to a U.S. State Department press release, China agreed to consider resuming its human rights dialogue with the United States, during an official visit of Secretary of State Colin Powell to Beijing. Further information is available in a New York Times article. Official human rights talks between the two nations broke down earlier this year following Chinese objections to the U.S. introduction of a resolution critical of the Chinese human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Official Chinese statements regarding a possible resumption of the human rights dialogue have been muted. However, a report on Powell's visit carried in the Beijing News characterizes the resumption of the dialogue as not merely under discussion, but already agreed upon.