A/HRC/11/25* young and middle aged. China has met ahead of schedule the targets of “universal primary education” and “eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education” as set in the MDGs. 8. The average life expectancy of Chinese citizens now stands at 73 years. The maternal mortality rate is 60 per cent. The average per capita residential floor space for rural and urban residents increased four-fold in 30 years. Twelve Chinese cities have won the UN-HABITAT Award. In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, in last May, the Chinese Government provided temporary accommodation within three months to over 10 million people affected by the earthquakes, and some 130,000 permanent residential units have been built within six months of the disaster. 9. China has worked consistently to improve its legal system. Since the reform in 1978, nearly 250 laws relating to the protection of human rights have been enacted. The notion of the rule of law and of State respect for safeguarding of human rights was codified in the Chinese Constitution in 1999 and 2004, respectively. China has continued its efforts to promote law-based governance and to increase government transparency. A number of laws, such as the Criminal Procedure, Administrative Review and State Compensation laws, and the Regulations on Public Access to Government Information, have been promulgated to ensure citizen’s rights to be informed, to participate and to oversee governmental affairs. From the central to local governmental levels, a mechanism of public notification and public hearing has been introduced for all major decisions bearing on public interests and people’s welfare. 10. China has endeavoured to promote democracy, enhance democratic institutions, improve the system of people's congresses, and reinforce political consultations among the political parties. A system of grassroots’ self-government has been established, involving rural villagers' committees and urban neighbourhood committees. A Chinese-style democracy is characterized by democratic election, democratic consultation and democratic self-government. 11. China sought to guarantee judicial independence and the fair administration of justice through continued reform and improvements. All death sentence appeal cases were heard in open court sessions. The authority to review and approve death penalty cases has been restored to the Supreme People's Court. Increasingly procuratorial organs required audio-video recording of interrogation of persons suspected of public office abuse-related crimes. The system of people’s assessors and people’s supervisors has been improved. Supervision over the administration of justice and over the law enforcement has been improved. 12. China encouraged NGOs to play a full role in promoting and protecting human rights with over 400,000 NGOs currently registered. They were active in such fields as poverty alleviation, health, education, environmental protection, and the safeguarding of citizens’ rights, and have growing influence on China’s political and social life. 13. China pursued a policy of ethnic equality and regional ethnic autonomy. Ethnic minorities in China benefitted from special preferential policies in the political, economic, cultural and educational spheres. The Government encouraged dual- and multi-language teaching in schools of ethnic minorities, and has helped 13 ethnic minorities to create or develop their written languages. Huge investment has been made to protect the religious practices, cultural identities and other heritages of ethnic minorities. 14. China was a party to 25 international human rights instruments, and has conducted human rights dialogue with nearly 20 countries. It maintained good relations of cooperation with the OHCHR and United Nations special procedures. The delegation welcomed Ms. 4 GE. 09-16299