China still has "a long way to go" before its citizens can enjoy full human rights, a senior Chinese official said in a rare admission of the challenges ahead, pointing to social conflict and even rising house prices as stumbling blocks.
Wang Chen, head of the State Council Information Office, said in a speech published in the English-language China Daily Wednesday that while China had made remarkable developments on this front, the way forward would be hard.
"Affected and restricted by natural, historical and cultural factors, and economic and social development levels, the cause of human rights in China is still facing many difficulties and challenges, and there is still a long way to go before achieving the lofty goal of the Chinese citizens fully enjoying human rights," Wang said.
Oh, and one other thing. What is it? Gosh, we've got housing. And food safety. Check. And some other stuff.
Oh yeah, I remember that other obstacle to freedom in China! The Chinese Communist Party dictatorship! I knew it would come to me.
I'm sure getting rid of that will be a central part of Wang's new 4-year "human rights action plan" for 2012-2015.
