Mr. Wang launched a "Happy Guangdong" campaign this year, pledging to focus on improving living standards while slowing GDP growth in the province of 104 million people that pioneered China's economic reforms and has long been seen as a bellwether of the country's future.

WSJ: Chinese Village, Police in Standoff Over Villager's Death

The report released Sunday in China which defines human rights primarily in terms of improving living conditions for its 1.3 billion people also cited gun violence in the U.S. among its examples of human rights violations, saying it was a serious threat to the lives and safety of America's citizens.

NPR: China Criticizes US For Its Human Rights Record