A/HRC/40/6 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-first session from 5 to 16 November 2018. The review of China was held at the 3rd meeting, on 6 November 2018. The delegation of China was headed by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Le Yucheng. At its 10th meeting, held on 9 November 2018, the Working Group adopted the report on China. 2. On 10 January 2018, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of China: Hungary, Kenya and Saudi Arabia. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of China: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/CHN/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/CHN/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/31/CHN/3 and Corr.1). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Cuba, Egypt, Estonia, Germany, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam was transmitted to China through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. China indicated that it attached great importance to the universal periodic review. It would seek cooperation, taking an open, inclusive, candid and cooperative approach to the interactive dialogue. 6. Four decades of reform and opening up had brought about remarkable progress in the country’s human rights development. 7. China has committed to building and improving its legal, policy and administrative systems for the promotion and protection of human rights. A vision, practice and development path of human rights with Chinese characteristics had been pursued, taking the country’s national conditions as the foundation, the people as the centre, development as the priority, the rule of law as the criterion and openness as the driving force. 8. Over the past five years, more than 1,500 reform measures had been rolled out, 32 new laws had been promulgated, including the General Rules on the Civil Law, and the third National Human Rights Action Plan had been issued. Those efforts had provided a strong institutional underpinning for the promotion and protection of human rights. 9. Nearly 1.4 billion people had been lifted out of poverty and were able to lead a moderately prosperous life. The largest education, social security and health-care systems in the world had been established. Ecological conservation was being vigorously promoted. All of that would better enable China to meet people’s growing needs for a better life. 2