Obama presses China over rights
Published:Monday | November 16, 2009 | 1:44 PM
US President Barack Obama has expressed concern about the issue of individual rights and freedoms in China.
He is reported to have told an audience of Chinese students that certain freedoms are universal and should be available to all.
He said these include the freedom of expression and worship, freedom of access to information and political participation.
China is an authoritarian country in which there are no elections for the country\'s national leaders.
Media outlets and the internet are heavily censored, and those who speak out against the government are often imprisoned.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obama is scheduled to meet Chinese President, Hu Jintao tomorrow.
The two are expected to hold talks on issues such as trade imbalances, the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea, and the effort to tackle climate change.
Mr. Obama is on his first trip to Asia as US president.