The Chinese Foreign Ministry refuted yesterday a recent US report that listed China as a "country of particular concern" with regard to religious freedom, saying the move constitutes blatant interference in the country's internal affairs.

 

Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China expresses "strong dissatisfaction" and "firm opposition" to being on the list.

 

Recently, the US State Department claimed to have listed China as one of eight "countries of particular concern" with regard to international religious freedom in 2006.

 

"The US' action violates the basic rules of international relations, and constitutes a rude intervention in the internal affairs of another country," Jiang said.

 

The Chinese government has always guaranteed citizens' right to religious freedom in accordance with the law, she said. People of various ethnic groups and regions in China enjoy broad and adequate freedom of religious belief according to law, Jiang added.

 

"It is the Chinese people that is entitled to speak on this matter," she noted.

 

"We demand the US respect the truth, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of religion," she said.

 

Jiang urged the US side to do more to promote mutual understanding between the two countries instead of worsening relations.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2006)