White paper stresses religious independence, self-management against "foreign domination"

China upholds the principle of independence and self-management in religious undertakings and foreign organizations and individuals must not interfere, a white paper said here Thursday.

The white paper titled Freedom of Religious Belief in Xinjiang, published by the State Council Information Office, said China's religious undertakings are run by its own religious groups, personnel or citizens, and that the country's religious affairs or organizations are "not subject to any foreign domination."

Foreigners must abide by Chinese laws and regulations when participating in religious activities within Chinese territory and must not interfere in China's religious affairs, it read.

"As a provincial-level administrative region of China, Xinjiang sticks to the principle of independence and self-management in terms of its religious affairs," it said.

It went on to say that the Chinese government resolutely opposes the politicization of religious matters and any other country's interference in China's internal affairs in the name of religion.

"China ... will never allow any foreign organization or individual to interfere with China' s religious affairs," the white paper said. Endit