U.S. officials say Chinese political reforms have lagged behind that country's economic advances.

Representatives of the two nations discussed human rights at an annual dialogue earlier this week.

The head of the U.S. delegation to those talks, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights Michael Posner, told reporters Wednesday that the overall human rights situation in China continues to deteriorate. He said a number of individuals have been detained in China as part of a larger pattern of arrests of people who challenge official actions and policies.

Posner said that during the meetings Monday and Tuesday, the U.S. urged China to release pro-democracy activists and lawyers who have been imprisoned because their clients have been critical of official actions.

The U.S. official said his Chinese counterparts were mindful of the U.S. concerns and the fact that the United States will continue to raise human rights issues.