German minister's comments on China dismay global press body

The German justice minister, Brigitte Zypries, in an interview ahead of Wen's meeting with chancellor Angela Merkel, said: “The Chinese are taking their own path, their so-called Chinese third way. I think we should respect that. We can't just say to them, ‘You have to behave like us.'”

In a broad interview that focused on the rule of law in China and progress fostered by a German-Chinese dialogue about justice and human rights, she said she believed that Chinese progress was occurring, albeit slowly.

In a statement, WAN said: “There are dozens of journalists and human rights activists in Chinese prisons who would take exception to the Justice Minister's comments, as we do.

“Human rights are not only universal concepts, but are what the term implies: rights, not privileges. The Chinese regime's approach to human rights continues to be disgraceful. The Communist Party withholds these rights from its own people, often in complete contempt for China's Constitution and laws. This is certainly not an approach to be praised and respected.”

China is the world's largest jailer of journalists. At least 30 journalists and 50 cyber reporters are currently held in Chinese prisons for reporting facts or peacefully expressing their views. More on China's press freedom abuses can be found at www.worldpressfreedomday.org.

Wen is in Europe for meetings with leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and will visit Germany, Spain, Britain and at European Union headquarters. WAN called on the European leaders to ensure that human rights and press freedom issues were included in the discussions.