Religion report rebuked

China yesterday expressed "firm opposition" to a US report on the religious situation in China.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom criticized the religious situation in China and other developing countries in its 2008 annual report, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday.

The report constitutes a malicious attack on China's policies on religion and ethnic minorities, and represents a gross interference in China's internal affairs, Qin said, adding that this is a reflection of the committee's consistent prejudice against China.

"It is a fact and reality that the Chinese government protects its citizens' freedom of religious belief according to the laws and Chinese citizens of all ethnic groups and locations enjoy full freedom of religious belief protected by law," the spokesman said.

Negroponte to visit Beijing

Deputy US Secretary of State John Negroponte will travel to Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing this month, the US State Department announced yesterday as the United States continues its push for a long-delayed declaration of Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear activities.

Negroponte will travel to the three Asian capitals from today till May 12 "for discussions with his counterparts on a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues", a US State Department statement said.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily 05/07/2008 page11)