Beijing, Dec 13 (IANS) China Tuesday told the US to stop interfering in its internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues.

China is willing to engage in dialogues with the US on human rights issues based on equality and mutual respect, foreign ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin said.

'But we are firmly against the US interfering in our internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues,' Liu said, adding that the US should stop 'finger-wagging' over human rights and reflect more on its own human rights problems.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the fundamental rights of people of all ethnic groups and protecting the religious freedom of its citizens according to the law, and it is obvious to all that China has already made great achievements in human rights protection, Xinhua quoted Liu as saying.

Liu's comments came after the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked about issues including human rights and internet freedom before the Human Rights Day.

Gary Locke, the US ambassador to China, also recently urged Beijing to improve its human rights record, pointing to Liu Xiaobo's case as an example where China falls short.

Liu Xiaobo co-authored a manifesto that calls for political reform and greater rights in China. He won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.

The US has no right to interfere in China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty, the foreign ministry spokesman said.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of internet and it regulates internet according to the law, Liu added.