China denies ignoring human rights in quest for oil

THE Chinese authorities angrily denied yesterday that the country turns a blind eye to human rights abuses in places like Sudan in its search for oil to help power its booming economy.

Chinese trade helps improve living standards and economies and does not have a negative impact, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

“We will not repeat the mistakes of the bloody pillaging and human rights abuses of the Western colonists in the past,” Mr Qin said. “In the global arena we stress peace, cooperation and development.”