The Chinese religious community has rejected a U.S. report on religious freedom and "advised" the U.S. side not to "kidnap" the issue.

A statement was issued after a joint meeting of the secretary-generals of the country's five major religious groups -- Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. The statement was published Tuesday.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) continued in its role as "international religious police" and "irrationally criticized" China's religious situation and policies in its 2012 annual report, attempting to tarnish the image of China, according to the statement.

As one of citizens' basic rights in China, religious freedom is fully protected by the Constitution and law, it explained, adding that Chinese citizens can choose to be non-religious or believe in any religion without interference from "any state organs or social organizations."

The Chinese government has stepped up publicity about, and enforcement of, religious freedom, it said, adding the concept of respecting and protecting religious freedom has been "deeply rooted among people."

The Chinese government treats various kinds of religion equally and "different religious groups coexist in harmony, without the type of tension among religious groups in the United States," the statement said.

"The situation of China's religious freedom cannot be distorted by merely releasing several speculation-based reports by a certain country. The actual feeling of the Chinese religious community should be the best proof," said the statement.

The Chinese religious community not only has religious freedom, but also enjoys all rights entitled to Chinese citizens, it went on.

China's government encourages and supports the religious circle to "participate in the socialist modernization drive," and plays an active role in promoting economic development, cultural prosperity and social harmony, it said.

"Various religious groups in China carry on a fine tradition of serving society and benefiting others, religious organizations actively conduct charity work, and believers work hard in their posts, which deserves respect and praise," it continued.

Any religion holds that believers should be "good citizens" and every country asks followers to abide by laws, and "the United States is no exception," according to the statement, which added that a handful of people who engage in criminal activity under the cloak of religion should be dealt with according to law, under the same situation that applies in the United States.

"However, the USCIRF's report deems the legal action of the Chinese government as 'persecuting religion,' and such 'double standard' is a popular method that has been frequently used by the United States in other fields. Everybody knows they lack credibility," it added.

Religious freedom is a common value pursued by mankind, "not the patent of any country," and it should not be "kidnapped and taken as a political tool" to seek self-interest, the statement said.

The Chinese religious community advised the USCIRF to "reexamine its act and abandon incorrect practice."

"China's religious groups are willing to have exchanges with U.S. counterparts on the basis of equality, friendship and mutual respect, and jointly promote religious freedom," the statement said.

The two sides should "offer help" to the healthy development of Sino-U.S. relations, instead of "making a mess of it," it added.

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