Xiao said that the leaders of China must acknowledge that the events in Tiananmen Square 10 years ago were crimes against the Chinese people.
"That's the path to justice," Xiao said. "That's the beginning of political liberation."
Xiao said that the increase in communication options among national and international protest groups helps to facilitate change. He said the Internet provides a way to inform Chinese people about democracy.
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But Xiao said reaching out to the people would not address the problem directly. The heart of the anti-democratic movement lies in the communist leadership, he said.
"[The leaders] do not represent the interests of the people," he said. "[Changes come] from the bottom up, but also from the top down."