Beijing Agrees to Legal Reform Sought by U.N.

The Chinese government signed an agreement with the United Nations human rights agency to collaborate on reforming Beijing’s legal system in preparation for adopting a key U.N. treaty on civil and political rights, the world body said.

The agreement was signed in Beijing by a senior Chinese diplomat and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. It represented a step forward in Arbour’s effort to persuade China to embrace the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. No target date was given for China’s ratification of the pact.