WASHINGTON. June 5: China must improve its record on human rights for US-Sino relations to reach their full potential, the State Department said on Friday, the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square- crackdown, reports Reuters.

"US-China relations will not reach their full potential until China brings its human rights practices into compliance with its obligations under international human rights instruments." State Department spokesman James Rubin said.

A decade ago the Chinese government used tanks and troops to end student-led-pro-democracy protests that resulted in bloodshed around Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

'Today marks the 10th anniversary of the tragic events in and around and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing and elsewhere in China." Rubin

"Over the past 10 years we have repeatedly urged the Chinese government to make a full accounting of the relatives — to the relatives of those who were killed during the violent crackdown on demonstrators on June 3 and 4. 1989, and to release all those still serving sentences for their peaceful participation in the demonstrations." he said.

Some human rights activists have said the Clinton administration has not taken a strong enough stance on human rights with China because of its desire to reach trade agreements.

'We recall those who spoke out for the values of freedom and democracy and again ask for China to right the wrongs of Tiananmen.” Rubin said.

The United States will support. as it has in the past. Chinese citizens' exercise of basic universally protected human rights," he said.