China Tuesday expressed "firm opposition" to a U.S. report on the religious situation in China.

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

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.

"We advise the USCIRF to seriously examine the United States' own problems and stop interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the pretext of religion, so as not to undermine China-U.S. ties, and save from further damages to its own image," Qin said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2008)