China slams US report on its religious status

BEIJING - China on Thursday slammed a US report concerning the former’s religious situation, saying it firmly opposes Washington intervening into China’s domestic affairs by issuing such a report.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks when asked to comment on the report.

The U.S. State Department released its annual international religious freedom report on November 17, which continued to include China on a list of countries of particular concern.

“China is firmly opposed to the U.S. side of attacking its situation of religious human rights by issuing reports of the kind year after year and interfering with China’s internal affairs,” the China Daily quoted Hong said.

Chinese people of all ethnic groups enjoy full freedom of practising religious beliefs in accordance with the law, Hong said. “We urge the US to do more work that benefits development of bilateral relations.” (ANI)