Q: The U.S. State Department released the 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on March 11, attacking China's human rights status again in its section concerning China. What's your comment on that?

A: The Chinese Government attaches great importance to safeguarding and promoting human rights. China's constitution and laws respect and ensure human rights. Over the past 31 years of reform and opening-up, China's economy has been constantly growing, democracy and rule of law pressing forward, cultural undertakings flourishing day by day, religious freedom fully ensured and people of all ethnic groups enjoying increasing and broader freedom and rights. This is a fact evident to all.

China is willing to have dialogues and exchanges with all other countries on human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect in order to promote understanding, expand common ground and reduce disputes. However, China firmly opposes any country interfering in its internal affairs in the name of human rights. We urge the U.S. side to reflect more upon its own human rights problems, refrain from regarding itself as the "human rights guard" and stop interfering in other country's internal affairs by releasing Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.