China signed the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights yesterday, guaranteeing such basic human rights as freedom of speech and association.
The pact signed in New York by the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Qin Huasun, provides for guarantees of freedom of expression, fair trial, protection against arbitrary detention, protection against torture and freedom of association.
The signature comes one year after China signed the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which provides especially for trade union rights.
But the convenant has yet to be ratified by the Chinese parliament.
The two covenants are the main cornerstones of the legal framework of the UN human rights system. UN officials said that China did not register any reservations when Mr Qin signed the treaty.
Human rights activists had expressed concern that China might enter reservations regarding some of the convenant's most important provisions, including the right to free expression.
Mr Qin said China "values the role of international human rights instruments in promoting and protecting human rights.
"I would like to reaffirm here the willingness of the Chinese government to further its co-operation with the United Nations in the field of human rights, in an effort to push forward together the development of the international cause of human rights."
Meanwhile, Chinese dissidents stepped up pressure ahead of a visit by the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair.
"We welcome your visit despite the fact that visits from Western leaders seldom do dissidents any good," said an open letter to Mr Blair from three activists in north-east China.
The letter, signed by Mr Leng Wanbao from Jilin province, Mr Wang Zechen from Liaoning and MrXiao Lijun from Heilongjiang, said the visits of President Clinton in June, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, and the French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, in September had all been marked by the detention of dissidents.
Mr Blair arrived yesterday for a four-day visit.