Following is the full text of the white paper China issued on February 17, 2000 on its human rights progress in the past 50 years, entitled "50 Years of Progress in China's Human Rights":

The year 1999 witnessed the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. For the previous half century, the Chinese people, led by the Chinese government, had unswervingly probed into and fought for the elimination of poverty and backwardness, the building of a rich, strong, democratic and civilized country, and the achievement of the lofty ideal of complete human rights. As a result, the situation of human rights in China has seen tremendous changes.

I. A historical turning point in the progress of human rights in China

II. Great improvement in the rights to subsistence and development, and economic, social and cultural rights

III. Civil rights and political rights of citizens ensured

IV. Protection of the rights of women and children

V. Equal rights and special protection for ethnic minorities

VI. The Cross-Century Development Prospects for Human Rights in China