Dear Sir,

Commissioner Patten has noted with interest your fax of 2nd February 2004.

As you certainly know, the EU meets with China biannually to hold a joint dialogue on human rights. Violations of the individual rights of members of Falun Gong in China are among the issues regularly raised, under the banner of freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom of belief. We will again raise these concerns at the next session of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue to be held in Dublin on 26 and 27 February.

With regard to the alleged exclusion of Falun gong members from the Chinese New Year Parade on the Champs Elysees, this is very much a question to be put forward to the organisers of this event, namely the local authorities of Paris, which enjoys a very large degree of autonomy.

Yours sincerely,

Signature
Jean-Christian Remond
Acting Head of Unit