Beijing, Aug 3 (IANS): China and the US have held discussions on human rights, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

The talks were held in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, Xinhua reported.

The Chinese delegation was headed by a foreign ministry official and the US team was led by a State Department official, the ministry said.

The two sides conducted frank, in-depth, comprehensive and constructive discussions on the protection of human rights and national concerns, international cooperation in human rights, justice and human rights, freedom of expression and privacy rights protection, according to the ministry.

The Chinese side introduced the country's achievements in democracy and the rule of law, improvement of people's livelihood, protection of minority rights, promotion of the coordinated development of civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.

The US affirmed China's progress in promoting economic and social development and poverty alleviation.

China said the dialogue on human rights was meaningful for building a new type of relationship between major powers.

It said the dialogue should be guided by mutual respect, equality, mutual non-interference in internal affairs.

The Chinese side said the country's human rights situation was in its best period in history and China was a country ruled by law.

It urged the US to respect China's judicial sovereignty and stop bothering Beijing on some isolated cases.

The Chinese side also raised the issues of racial discrimination, lack of protection of indigenous rights, use of torture against terrorism, poor prison conditions and other issues within the US.

The US delegation also visited a minority village, a women's prison, a mosque and a temple in Yunnan, and the Supreme People's Court and the State Bureau of Religious Affairs in Beijing.