A foreign debt expert urged China on Monday not to forget about human right issues when the government extends loans and negotiates payment terms with debtor countries.

China.org reported that Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, a foreign debt expert working for the United Nations, met with the media on Monday in Beijing. During the press briefing, he gave his assessment on China's attempt to assume the role of an international creditor.

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China is currently the main financier of two new international lending institutions namely, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB). Bohoslavsky has expressed hope that the two new lending institutions will learn and avoid committing the same errors made by other international lenders.

Boholslavsky said many creditor countries are reluctant to attach terms relating to the human rights of debtor countries out of the fear of being accused of meddling with the domestic affairs of other nations.

He nonetheless called on creditor countries to add the respect of human rights to loan term agreements. China maintains that it recognizes the human rights of countries that it extends loans to. The Chinese government has declared its adherence to the international rules which declares that the extension of loans carries with it the respect of human rights.

According to Boholslavsky, such rules are important especially if the debtor country is beset by armed fighting within its border, corrupt or inept government, or unable to keep law and order.

The United Nations has reported that around 120 countries are recipients of China's soft loans and grants. Numerous companies in China have also set up subsidiaries in many foreign countries.

Channel News Asia reported Boholsavsky's take on the current Greece debt crisis. He said that the victory of the 'No' vote means that the population are tired of the austerity imposed upon them, but it has not helped their country recover economically.

He also noted that the default of Greece's debt has made it difficult for medicine and food to reach the people that need it the most. Boholslavsky said he would like to tell the Eurozone creditors that the people of Greeks have human rights too, according to Reuters.

TagsAsian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), new development bank, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, china loan, chinese grants