Canberra, Australia - CHINA has put Australia on notice it must ensure Falun Gong protesters are dealt with if they damage the "dignity" of the Chinese mission in Canberra.
The religious group claims its members are persecuted in China and has maintained a continuing vigil outside the embassy for the past five years.
The Government had placed restrictions on the protests, with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer signing certificates barring large banners and excessive noise.
The minister stopped signing them earlier this year after the demonstrators agreed to certain constraints.
China's treatment of Falun Gong practitioners was discussed during talks between Australia and China today for an annual human rights dialogue.
Australia quizzed China about ongoing allegations that authorities are rounding up and executing thousands of dissidents and harvesting their organs for sale.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade deputy secretary David Ritchie said concerns about organ harvesting was discussed during the six-hour meeting.
"(But) we think the evidence (that this is happening) is not necessarily there," he said.
"It's of concern if it is true."
Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, the head of the Chinese delegation, said a number of foreign media and embassies in China had investigated the claims.
"They found no evidence at all," he said.
Despite an apparent easing of the restrictions on the Falun Gong protests, Mr Ritchie told his Chinese counterpart that Australia was serious about making sure the dignity of embassies was not violated.
"Australia takes its obligations ... for the dignity and protection of diplomatic missions very carefully and very seriously," he said.
But he said Australia had the same concerns for all missions, not just China.
Mr Cui said if Falun Gong broke the law regarding the dignity of the mission, they must be dealt with according to the law.
"There should be no exceptions," he said.
Both nations gave a positive assessment of the human rights discussion, which has been ongoing for 10 years.
"We continue to see the dialogue as a positive and productive exercise," Mr Ritchie said.
"It's very difficult to measure progress in human rights, but our overall assessment is that there has been progress in China in human rights over the 10 years."
Today's dialogue touched on numerous issues, including media freedom, labour rights, civil and political rights and the treatment of minorities.
Mr Cui said the dialogue had played a part in strengthening relations between the two countries.
"This human rights dialogue is an essential part of our overall relationship," he said.
And it had benefits for Chinese citizens.
"The people in China can feel the progress, see the progress and they can enjoy the progress," Mr Cui said.