GENEVA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese expert stressed Tuesday that stability and development are strong guarantees for upholding the human rights of people from all ethnic groups in China.

Liu Lili, an expert from the China Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, told Xinhua that it is necessary to combat terrorism, promote social stability and protect the lives and property of all people.

She said so when she attended an NGO side meeting on the upcoming UN review of China's human rights situation.

"All ethnic minorities in China are co-creators of Chinese history and culture with a completely equal status," said Liu, adding that China is just like a family, in which all ethnic minorities are brothers and sisters.

According to the expert, the Chinese government has made great efforts to promote the development of ethnic minorities and areas so as to enhance national unity and common prosperity.

Sun Shiyan, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who also attended the side meeting, highlighted that the purpose of the UN human rights review is to assess the human rights situation of each member state equally.

Countries, organizations and individuals who truly care about the human rights situation in China should treat it in a fair, objective and constructive way, he said.