A leading human rights group say China has failed to live up to its pre-Games promise to improve its human rights record.

With just days to go before the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Games, Amnesty International says China is still heavily monitoring citizens who disagree with the government.

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Irene Khan from Amnesty says the group is still waiting to see tangible changes.

'Promise to world'

"China made a promise that if it was given the Olympic Games it would bring about certain human rights changes," she says

"We would like to see china live up to that promise."

One of China's leading dissidents has managed to obtain a visa, and is visiting Sydney.

Chen Ziming was a central figure in the Tiananmen Square protests, and is monitored by up to 15 security agents at a time.

Dissident given visa

He says this is the first time he's been allowed to travel in nearly two decades.

"After 19 years they allowed me for the first time to come overseas," Mr Ziming says.

"This itself is a step forward. Whether I will be able to return peacefully we will all see."

"If my re-entry will not be refused then that will be big progress," he says.

Mr Ziming says the fact he has been allowed to travel at all during the lead-up to the Games is a sign China is beginning to open up.

Former UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson says condemning China is not the way to affect change in the country.

Ms Robinson says the international community must engage in dialogue with China to explain its human rights concerns.

She says condemning china will simply inflame nationalistic sentiment as was the case after the Tibet protests.
Source: SBS