A/HRC/11/25* a harmonious society characterized by democracy, rule of law, equity and justice, as encapsulated in its policy of a Scientific Outlook on Development. It asked China to share some of the main lessons learned and best practices emerging from its experience in carefully formulating national economic and social development plans, and its astounding economic success, which have propelled living standards from poverty to subsistence and from subsistence to relative prosperity, including as the first country in the world in meeting the MDG on poverty reduction. It noted, however, that the reach and effects of such successes have been uneven between urban and rural areas and among different regions of the country. Bhutan recommended that China strengthen its efforts in poverty alleviation in order to continue reducing the number of persons living in poverty. It also recommended particular focus on bridging the gap in economic and social development between rural and urban areas and among regions. Bhutan noted increasing investment in the development of minority areas, including through increased support for basic education, promotion of traditional medicine and cultures and enhancement of self-development capacity as measures identified by the Government as future objectives. 36. Noting that China has accomplished important leaps along the path of economic development, moving in 30 years from being a poor country into becoming the third biggest economy in the world, Egypt expressed continuing support to China in its endeavour to pursue development, national unity and territorial integrity. It praised the commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights demonstrated in the new constitutional provision. It further praised China’s efforts to ameliorate and promote human rights protection, taking into consideration the accompanying challenges of being a country with 1.3 billion people. It understood China’s need to keep the death penalty, which it recognized is strictly controlled and applied with extreme caution and is not applied to any person under 18 or to any pregnant women. It welcomed the restoration of the authority to review and approve death penalty cases to the Supreme People’s Court. Egypt recommended that China: (a) continue its national efforts for the promotion and protection of human rights, including in the area of strengthening its national human rights architecture; and (b) in light of its national realities, continue to implement the policy of strictly controlling and applying the death penalty. 37. Libya noted that China had implemented many procedures and principles in order to promote human rights and gender equality, as well as the many challenges faced by China. It appreciated the strategies deployed and lessons learned by China in pursuing prosperity for all its inhabitants and implementation of the MDGs. It welcomed the efforts made by China to adhere to all international agreements. Libya recommended that China accede to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). 38. Mexico welcomed China’s efforts in the area of human rights, in particular the progress made regarding education, labour, health, housing and the early achievement of MDGs. It noted with satisfaction the measures taken to create the conditions for swift ratification of the ICCPR, which will help to further improvements in areas including due process of law, freedom of expressions and opinions and freedom of religion, beliefs and association throughout the country, and to do so without reservations. Mexico observed China’s cooperation with OHCHR and Special Procedures, some of which it received as long ago as 1994. It noted China’s openness in ratifying a huge number of human rights instruments. Mexico also noted that it would be desirable to continue fostering cooperation with international mechanisms and for this reason recommended that China a) respond positively to requests from Special Procedures on the right to food, human rights defenders, adequate housing, health, extrajudicial executions and toxic waste to visit China; and b) give positive consideration to ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OP-CAT), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED). Mexico commended China for having implemented additional GE.09-16299 9