China rejected the US State Department's annual report on religious freedom Thursday with "strong displeasure" and "resolute objection."

Commenting on the International Religious Freedom Report 2004 released by the US State Department, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said the report defied the facts, posed unreasonable criticism of China's religious policies, trampled the norms of international relations and interfered in China's internal affairs.

Kong said that China protects its citizens' religious rights in accordance with its law. All ethnic groups and people across the country enjoy religious freedom.

"This fact is obvious to all," Kong said.

It is groundless for the United States to make irresponsible remarks or criticize other countries' internal affairs with the excuse of religion, said Kong.

Kong urged the US side to correct its wrongdoing and stop its intervention in China's internal affairs in regards to religion or the issue will overshadow Sino-US relations.

The annual report, covering 191 countries and regions, criticizes a number of developing countries' governments "engaged in systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedoms."

US law mandates that the State Department issue an annual report on the status of religious freedom around the world.

By People's Daily Online