BEIJING, July 30 -- China on Wednesday expressed "firm opposition" to a U.S. report about China's religious situation.

The U.S. State Department released its annual international religious freedom report on July 29, which continued to include China on a list of countries of particular concern.

"We urge the U.S to abandon its political bias and stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of religion," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang in a statement.

"We are firmly opposed to the U.S. act of ignoring facts and attacking China's religious policies by issuing these kinds of reports," Qin said.

The government protects its citizens' freedom of religious beliefs, he said, adding the Chinese people of all ethnic groups enjoy full freedom of practising religion in accordance with laws.