Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China proposes dialogue rather than confrontation on the issue of human rights.

Wen made the remarks during an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, prior to his visit to the European Union.

The newspaper asked Wen to expound on China's recent revision of its Constitution to protect human rights and private property.

China's parliament, the National People's Congress, adopted amendments to its Constitution in March, stressing that China respects and protects human rights.

Wen said the revision of the Constitution shows China's efforts to protect human rights.

China has made long-term and unremitting efforts for the protection of human rights, he said, citing the efforts in providing assurance of its 1.3 billion people's right to subsistence and the right of development, in its reform of political structure to develop democracy, and in its efforts of promoting the rule of law.

China has joined the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and submitted its first report last year.

China is also preparing for the adoption of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which it signed in October 1998, Wen said.

Wen said China wrote the protection of private property into its Constitution with two aims. One is to protect the right to assets by China's nationals, and the other is to promote the reform in property rights.