Beijing, Apr. 13 : "China has a long road ahead in its efforts to improve its human rights situation," though unremitting efforts have been made to promote and safeguard human rights since the founding of the People''s Republic of China in 1949, which "fundamentally" changed the fate of the Chinese people.

The country published its first working plan on human rights protection Monday, pledging to further protect and improve the country''s human rights conditions in an all-round way.

The National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010), issued by the Information Office of the State Council, or Cabinet, highlighted various human rights that would be promoted and protected in less than two years, from people''s right to work, to the rights of detainees and the disabled, Xinhua reports.

The death penalty will be "strictly controlled and prudently applied," "impartial and fair trials" of litigants will be guaranteed, and the people will enjoy more rights to be informed and to be heard, the government promised.

More job opportunities will be created, per capita income will be increased, social security network will be broadened, and health care and education will become more accessible and affordable in order to guarantee the people''s economic, social and cultural rights.

The document also detailed how the government will do to "guarantee human rights in the reconstruction of areas hit by the devastating earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province" on May 12, 2008, in which about 87,000 people were confirmed dead or missing, more than 370,000 were injured, and at least 15 million people were displaced.

It says that by the year 2010, the registered urban unemployment rate will be kept below 5 percent, according to the human rights action plan.

The government is to reduce the number of deaths caused by industrial accidents per 100 million yuan (US$14.3 million) of GDP by 35 percent compared with the figure for 2005, and the deaths per 100,000 workers in factories, mines and businesses by 25 percent, according to the plan.

It said that those goals will be realized by strengthening labor protection, and improving production conditions in accordance with the Law on Safe Production. (ANI)