Q: Recently, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued 2008 annual report, criticizing religious policies of China and other countries. Do you have any comment?

A: The annual report issued by the so-called United States Commission on International Religious Freedom made irresponsible remarks on the religious affairs in some developing countries including China. Biased as always, the Commission made malicious attacks on China's religious and ethnic policies, and grossly interfered with China's internal affairs in the report. China expresses its firm opposition to that.

It is a solid fact that the Chinese Government protects the freedom of religious belief of the Chinese citizens according to law and Chinese citizens of all ethnic groups and localities enjoy full freedom of religious belief. The attempt by the USCIRF to defame China is doomed to failure.

We advise the USCIRF to earnestly examine the existing problems in the US and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of religion, so as not to disturb the development of China-US ties, and further undermine its own image.