国内英语新闻:China releases white paper on human rights, highlighting Internet freedom

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government Sunday released a white paper on human rights in China in 2009, highlighting the role of Internet freedom and the country's efforts in safeguarding citizens' legitimate civil and political rights.

"The overall cause of human rights has been promoted in an all-round way," says the white paper, published by the State Council Information Office under the title "Progress in China's Human Rights in 2009."

Chinese netizens' right to freedom of speech on the Internet was protected in 2009 and the Internet has become a new channel for the Chinese government to gauge public opinion, and consequently improve its governance, the report reads.

It has become "common practice" for governments at all levels to consult the public via the Internet before formulating some policy, it says.

It adds government agencies have set up special websites to facilitate the public's reporting of corruption and dereliction of duty among officials.

In 2009, the Chinese government promulgated and implemented its first national action plan with human rights as the theme.

The National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010), which applies the Constitutional principle of respecting and protecting human rights to the various fields of politics, economy, culture, social construction, etc., has been "effectively implemented", according to the white paper.

Chinese people's standard of living "has been further improved on the basis of economic and social development" after the country put forward a 4-trillion-yuan (596.6 billion U.S. dollars) stimulus package in the wake of the international financial crisis, it says.

In 2009, the per capita net income of rural residents was 5,153 yuan, and the per capita disposable income of urban residents was 17,175 yuan, an increase of 8.5 percent and 9.8 percent respectively over the previous year.

The white paper is China's 9th report on human rights since the country began releasing the document in 1991.