October 25, 1999
Web posted at: 11:16 a.m. EDT (1516 GMT)

In this story: Warm welcome draws criticism and protests Enjoying the French countryside RELATED STORIES, SITES

PARIS -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin, on a state visit to France, defended China's human rights record on Monday and declared that democracy was not an "absolute."

"The Chinese government always has attached a great importance to human rights," Jiang said at a news conference, speaking alongside his host, French President Jacques Chirac.

Jiang said China's geographic location and large population meant that his country had a different approach to human rights and democracy.

"Democracy is not an absolute concept. On the contrary, it is relative, it is relative to the characteristics of each country," Jiang added.

ALSO Airbus in $2.5 billion China order     MESSAGE BOARD China Tomorrow

Jiang had harsh words for the European Union, which recently criticized his country's human rights record, saying it represented interference in Chinese affairs.

Chirac said Monday that he had emphasized French and EU concerns about the need for China to make progress on respecting human rights.

The French leader said China's role as a major power in the future would push it increasingly towards more democracy.

"I am convinced that, in view of the political and technological evolution of humanity, a major power will by necessity be democratic," said Chirac.

Jiang's high-level welcome from the French leadership has drawn criticism from Chirac's opponents and Chinese dissidents.

Not far from the Elysee Palace where Jiang spoke on Monday, French police arrested eight members of the media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders during a protest in front of the offices of Air China.

Among the demands Jiang heard from protesters was one for Tibetan independence, "but I think Mr. Chirac would not share this point of view, he said.

Chirac chose not to react to Jiang's comment.

Jiang, on a two-week overseas tour that began in Britain, was greeted Sunday in Paris at the Invalides, site of Napoleon's tomb as an estimated 500 protesters and Chinese dissidents gathered at the Place de la Bastille to denounce the visit.

Later, police detained about 100 protesters who had made their way across town to the official residence where Jiang was staying.

Meanwhile in Beijing, police on Monday arrested several dozen members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement who had protested in Tiananmen Square against a draft law curbing cults.

In addition, four members of the banned China Democracy Party defended themselves in a Chinese court on Monday against subversion charges, a human rights group said.

The defendants were ordered to be silent and the trial adjourned without a verdict in the eastern city of Hangzhou, according to the Hong Kong-based Information Center of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China. The group said Sunday that four other members of the group had been detained.

Chirac and Jiang have spent 10 hours in talks since the Chinese leader arrived in France on Friday. Most of the discussions were held at the French leader's private estate in the Correze region, the first time Chirac has ever entertained a head of state at his family chateau.

On Sunday, Jiang appeared to enjoy the French countryside -- dancing to accordion music with French first lady Bernadette Chirac at a local fair and bottle-feeding a small lamb in the countryside.

He also traveled to the southeastern city of Lyon, where he announced China's order of 28 European Airbus planes, valued at some $2.5 billion.

"That he is invited, that is one thing, that we sell airplanes that is normal, but to spend an evening partying and dancing with him, that is intolerable," said Robert Menard, president of Reporters Without Borders, who was among the protesters arrested Monday.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.