A/HRC/11/25* defending legally their clients in criminal proceedings. However, when a case involves state secrets, it is normal that certain restrictions are placed on the meetings between suspects and their lawyers. Consideration is being given to amending the criminal procedure law so as to further enhance the role of lawyers in criminal proceedings. 71. On freedom of speech and expression, the delegation noted that China’s laws provide complete guarantees. The Government encourages the media to play a watchdog role and there is no censorship in the country. Major stories, like the contaminated milk powder story, are brought to public attention by the media. No individual or press has been penalized for voicing their opinions or views. Chinese journalists’ right to report their story is fully guaranteed by the law. When reporting on certain sensitive stories, some journalists may encounter obstacles or pressure, which reflects characteristics of the profession. But these obstacles are not from the Government, but from some interests-concerned parties. The Government and the judiciary body would deal with such cases of harassment of journalists in accordance with the law. Chinese law prohibits the use of the Internet or other mass media for creating rumours or instigating the subversion of Government, splitting national territory or instigating hatred amongst ethnic groups and religious discrimination. These legal provisions are in conformity with the ICCPR. 72. Bahrain noted the measures taken by China to promote and protect human rights. It praised the efforts made particularly the work undertaken to guarantee health care nationwide, evidenced by an increase in the number of hospital infrastructure facilities. It welcomed the efforts made by China to bring about a decrease in mortality rates and increase in life expectancy. It stressed that China was the first developing country to have overcome small pox and eradicate it. It further welcomed the measures taken by China to overcome SARS noting that reform is being undertaken on health institutions. Bahrain recommended that China continue its efforts to guarantee the wellbeing, which allows all patients to enjoy basic health care services. 73. Zimbabwe praised China’s recent economic achievements, which ensured better realization of socio-economic rights for its people, and which cannot be better measured than by China’s recent attainment of the rank of the world’s third largest economy. It praised China for socio-economic, political, technical and cultural progress and achievements in the field of human rights, including the development of freedoms of speech, opinion, expression, thinking and the enactment of laws related to the promotion and protection of human rights. Zimbabwe recommended that China continue its poverty reduction programmes and continue to support and encourage the further development of China’s media use of English and other foreign languages. This will help the outside world to get to better understand China, including the objective coverage of China, a country too often deliberately and grossly misunderstood by some international media. 74. Indonesia noted the consistent efforts which China has undertaken to improve and strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights as exemplified by its ratification of six core human rights conventions. China was the most populous nation in the world with various multi-ethnic communities from diverse social and cultural backgrounds living peaceably together. Indonesia commended the Government’s efforts to promote harmony and understanding among these communities as well as within the different religious groups. Indonesia asked whether China has any plans to ratify further international conventions and if it also intends to implement new legislative norms relative to judicial reforms in the near future. It recommended that China ensure the implementation of the legislation related to the 60 judicial reform measures as established at the end of 2008. It believed this would serve to further reinforce China’s judicial system, and in turn, support the harmonization of China’s laws in accordance with the relevant international instruments. GE.09-16299 17