Canadian Prime Minister Responds to Professor Zhang Kunlun's Expression of Gratitude

PM letterhead

OTTAWA K1A 0A2

February 27, 2001

Dear Mr. Zhang:

Thank you for your letter of February 4, 2001, thanking Canada for rescuing you from imprisonment in China and bringing to my attention the difficult situation of Falun Gong practitioners.

I am very happy that you have been able to return to Canada safely. Canada maintains a continuous dialogue with Chinese authorities on human rights. Through this dialogue, we have expressed and will continue to express vigorously, to all levels of the Chinese leadership, Canada's views on a range of human rights concerns.

In addition, Canada has consistently spoken out publicly about the human rights situation in China in statements at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations General Assembly.

The Team Canada mission to China afforded a valuable opportunity to voice our concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Jean Chretien (Signature)