China rejects US religious freedom report ( 2003-12-21 20:53) (Xinhua) China rejected the US State
Department's annual report on religious freedom Sunday with "strong displeasure"
and "resolute objection".
Commenting on the International Religious Freedom Report 2003 released by the
US State Department, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the
criticism on China's religious policies and freedom situation in the report
defied facts and was "extremely unfair and absolutely unreasonable".
"The Chinese side expresses strong displeasure at and resolute objection to
this," he noted.
China has been protecting its citizens' religious rights in accordance with
the law, Liu said, adding that all ethnic groups and people from all over the
country enjoy religious freedom.
In the meantime, the Chinese government bans, in accordance with law, illegal
or criminal activities conducted by such organizations or individuals as the
Falun Gong cult in the name of religion, the spokesman said, adding all these
efforts have been made just for safeguarding and ensuring the religious freedom
of all citizens, consequently winning widespread support from the broad masses.
Liu urged the US side to take better care of its own domestic religious
freedom instead of always criticizing others and make more efforts conducive to
mutual understanding and cooperation between the China and the United States
instead of interfering in China's internal affairs under the guise of religious
issues.
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