China has rejected as "irresponsible" a US report that accused it of having a poor human rights record and told the United States to stop meddling in the affairs of other nations.
"It made no regard of the facts and made irresponsible accusations of China's human rights situation," foreign ministry spokesman Mr Liu Jianchao said.
"We've been protecting and promoting human rights," he said at a press briefing. "We would like to use this opportunity to ask the United States not to interfere in other people's internal affairs".
Yesterday, the United States accused China's communist leaders of presiding over a "poor" human rights record last year, saying the government continued to commit numerous and serious abuses.
It highlighted the arrests of democracy activists, the imposition of death sentences without due process on two Tibetans, and the trials of labour leaders on subversion charges.
It said China was also quick to suppress religious, political and social groups, as well as individuals perceived to be a threat to government power or to national stability, including citizens who sought to express openly dissenting political and religious views.
Human rights have long been a source of contention between the two countries.
AFP