BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved obvious results in protecting citizens' rights and freedoms, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday, rejecting a U.S. report that criticized China.

Spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks when asked to comment on a U.S. State Department report that criticized China's democracy- and human rights-status.

The Chinese government protects its citizens' basic rights and freedoms in accordance with law, Qin said, adding that the people-oriented approach has produced obvious results.

"The U.S. report ignores facts and gratuitously slams China's human rights, freedoms and democracy status," said Qin.

China rejects the allegations and urges the U.S. to focus on its own problems and stop interfering in China's internal affairs on the pretext of human rights, the spokesman said.