FM Spokesman: Section on China of US Annual International Religious Freedom Report Distorts FactsThe section concerning China in the 2001 International Religious Freedom Report issued by the US Department of State is a distortion of the facts, and the Chinese government expresses the utmost indignation and strong protest against this matter, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi said Tuesday at a regular press conference.Sun said the US Department of State issued the so-called 2001 International Religious Freedom Report, in which the section concerning China distorts the facts and attacks China's religious policy as well as China's ban of Falun Gong activities. Sun said what the U.S. side has done violates the norms governing international relations and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. The Chinese government protects citizens' freedom of religious beliefs according to laws, but it will never allow any group or individual to conduct illegal activities or commit crimes in name of religion, Sun noted. He added that China has made great progress in developing the religion cause since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially in the two decades of opening up and reform. The U.S. side had no right to publish this report and fabricate stories to interfere in another country's religious cause, Sun said. The Chinese government asks the U.S. side to abide by the norms governing international relations with "mutual respect" and "noninterference in other countries' internal affairs," and stop interfering in China's internal affairs by conducting religious activities, so as to avoid causing new damage to Sino-U.S. ties, Sun said. |
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