China refutes US blame on human rights

BEIJING  -- China on Thursday questioned the findings of a United States human rights report, and cautioned against using the issue of human rights to interfere in China's domestic affairs.

The US State Department released an annual report on global human rights on Wednesday, pointing a finger at China and some other countries.

"This 'human rights report' overlooks China's human rights achievements," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on the report.

He said anyone with a real interest in China's human rights situation would not deny the remarkable improvements since the reform and opening-up drive began more than three decades ago.

Lu said China can have candid exchanges with other countries on the issue and work together to improve human rights, but countries should not use human rights to interfere in the internal affairs of others.

"Attempts to politicize the issue of human rights to disrupt China's stability and development will prove to be futile," Lu said.