Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday vehemently rejected the US's report about restriction on religious freedom in China
Beijing, (Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018) : Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday vehemently rejected the US's report about restriction on religious freedom in China. The report published by United States Commission for International Religious Freedom, criticizing China's freedom of religion has no ground whatsoever, said the Foreign Ministry'S spokesperson Hua Chunying at the regular news briefing. The Chinese government protects citizens' freedom of religious belief in accordance with law.
All ethnic groups in China enjoy full religious freedom in accordance with the law. This fact is obvious to all. The so-called committee of the United States is always full of political prejudice against China, disregards the progress China has made in the religious field, and publishes reports year after year to denigrate China's religious policies and conditions. Its public opinion is not worth refuting. We advise these people to face up to and respect basic facts, abandon prejudices, stop publishing relevant reports, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs with religious issues, she added.
Replying a question about the "Belt and Road Initiative", Hua Chunying said it was proposed more than five years ago, from the idea to the action, from the vision to reality, and achieved fruitful results. More and more countries and regions are benefiting from it. More than 80 countries and international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China. According to statistics from relevant Chinese authorities, China has now established 75 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in countries along the route.
From 2013 to 2017, the total import and export value of China and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative reached 33.2 trillion Yuan, an average annual increase of 4%, which is higher than the average annual growth rate of China's foreign trade over the same period. In the first quarter of this year, China's imports and exports along the "One Belt and One Road" countries increased by 12.9%, of which exports increased by 10.8% and imports increased by 15.
7%. These facts all indicate that the "One Belt and One Road" initiative is based on China, but opportunities and achievements belong to the world. We welcome all countries to carry high-speed trains along the "One Belt and One Road" and to jointly develop into a prosperous future, she added. About the U.S. media reports regarding deployment of missile system in the Nansha Islands by the Chinese government, the spokesperson said China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters.
China's peace building activities on the Nansha Islands, including the deployment of necessary national defense facilities, are necessary for safeguarding China's sovereignty and security, as well as the natural rights enjoyed by sovereign states. The deployment is not for any country. Those who have no intention of aggression need not worry about fear. It is hoped that the parties concerned will be objective and calm. What needs to be emphasized is that China is a big country in trade and a firm defender of regional peace and stability. China will continue to cooperate fully with all countries to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, she added.
