China has paid great attention to human rights protection while amending laws and regulations in recent years, says a government report on the country's human rights progress in 2012 issued Tuesday.

"Respecting and protecting human rights" was added to the newly amended Criminal Procedure Law in 2012, the report notes, hailing it a significant move for punishing crimes, protecting the people and safeguarding the citizens' litigation and other lawful rights.

"The spirit of this clause was implemented in amendments and revisions made in the clauses regarding evidence, defense, compulsory and investigatory measures, review and prosecution, trial and execution, as well as newly added stipulations," it says.

The 2012 amended Civil Procedure Law also offers further protection to the litigation rights of parties to a lawsuit, the report says.

"China continues to improve its legal system that protects human rights," says the report, released by the Information Office of the State Council.

It notes that China had established a multi-level socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics by the end of 2010, which ensures that the country's human rights protection is done within the framework of the law.