Finnish President Halonen Admits making a Mistake in Statement on China

This news was reported in the main newspapers in Finland.

STT 11.1.2003

HELSINKI—Finland President Tarja Halonen admitted that she made a mistake in a recent statement concerning human rights in China. During her visit to China in November, the President congratulated [China] for the progress it has made on its way to becoming a constitutional state.

“My mistake was, and I say it here publicly, that I didn’t include in my statement that there is, of course, much to correct [in China]”, Halonen stated at a Youth Philosophical event in Helsinki on Friday night, which was recorded by YLE-radio news.

The human rights association, Amnesty International, criticised the statement made by Halonen and stated that human rights in China has deteriorated in recent times.

The statement has also aroused some discussion in Parliament question time.