Q: In its 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released on February 25, the US State Department once again criticized China’s human rights. Do you have any comment?

A: The Chinese Government attaches great importance to protecting and improving human rights. China's constitution and laws respect and guarantee human rights. Over the past three decades since reform and opening up, China enjoys sustained economic growth, constant progress in democracy and legal framework construction, thriving cultural undertaking and adequately protected freedom of religious belief. People of various ethnic groups in China enjoy increasingly extensive freedom and rights. I believe this is widely witnessed in the world.

China is ready to carry out dialogue and communication with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect so as to build up understanding, expand consensus and reduce disputes. But we resolutely oppose any country in any way interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. We urge the US side to reflect on its own human rights problems, stop acting as a "human rights guardian" and stop interfering in other's internal affairs by releasing human rights reports.