Barack Obama called for China to protect its ethnic and religious minorities, saying support for human rights was 'ingrained' in US policy. -- PHOTO: APWASHINGTON - US PRESIDENT Barack Obama called Monday for China to protect its ethnic and religious minorities, saying support for human rights was 'ingrained' in US policy.
Mr Obama, inaugurating a two-day relationship aimed at broadening relations between the two nations, said that the United States respected China's 'ancient culture'.
But he added: 'We also strongly believe that the religion and culture of all peoples must be respected and protected, and that all people should be free to speak their minds.
'That includes ethnic and religious minorities in China, as surely as it includes minorities within the United States,' said Mr Obama, the first president from the historically oppressed African-American community.
'Support for human rights and human dignity is ingrained in America,' he said.
The US-China dialogue comes shortly after the eruption of ethnic violence in China's Muslim-majority Xinjiang province, which left at least 192 people dead. -- AFP
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