China Premier meets Germany's Merkel in Beijing, hopes to talk about human rights

PremierLi Keqiang said on ThursdayChina's constitution protectshuman rightsafter he was askedaboutLiu Xia, the widow of Nobel Peace Prize-winner Liu Xiaobo, with concern growing thatBeijingwill not allow her to leave the country.

Liu Xia, an artist and poet who suffers from depression, has been under effective house arrest since her husband was awarded the prize in 2010. She has never been charged with any crime.

Liu Xiaobo died of liver cancer in July while in Chinese custody, having been jailed in 2009 for inciting subversion.

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Li answered a questionaboutLiu Xia's freedom by sayingChina's constitution states that it respects and protectshumanrights. He said at a joint briefing with German Chancellor Angela MerkelinBeijinghe hopedChinaand Germany couldtalkaboutindividualhumanrightscases on an equal basis.

"Chinawill respect the actions taken in accordance with the law by judicial and law enforcement bodies, but at the same time we must respecthumanitarianism and followhumanitarian principles," Li said.

"On relevant individual cases, we hope to have a dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equality. We will explain our situation," Li said, without elaborating or mentioning Liu Xia by name.

Merkelhad brought uphumanrightsissues with him andChinawas willing to holdtalks on the subject with Germany by the end of this year, he said.

Chinahas repeatedly said Liu Xia is free and is accorded allrightsguaranteed to her by Chinese law.

However,Beijing-based Western diplomats say she has been closely monitored by Chinese authorities since her husband's death and has only been able to meet and speak to friends and family in pre-arranged phone calls and visits.

Repeated delays byBeijingin recent months over discussions that would allow Liu Xia to leave Chinahave raised concern that she will be unable to fulfil her wish to live overseas, a Western diplomat involved in the case told Reuters.

Dozens of writers, poets and artists from around the world called last week forChinato release Liu Xia after a friend who lives in Germany released details of a phone conversation where Liu Xia said she was prepared to die inChina.

Western diplomats inBeijingtook the rare step two weeks ago of attempting to visit Liu Xia in her home but were turned away by security personnel, an official of one of the embassies involved told Reuters. The official declined to be identified.