China on Thursday lodged a formal complaint over a U.S. Congress resolution on Tibet.

"The Chinese government and people are strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposed to the approval of a Tibet resolution by the U.S. Congress on Wednesday," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press briefing.

His comments came in response to a question on the adoption by the U.S. House of Representatives of a legally non-binding measure on Tibet.

"The resolution disregards the real situation in Tibet and makes groundless accusations against China's religious policies. It glorifies the Dalai Lama's secessionist activities over the years and runs counter to the norms of international relations," said the spokesman.

"The resolution rudely intervenes in China's internal affairs. The Chinese government and people are strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to it," Ma said, adding China has lodged "solemn representations".

He urged the resolution's backers to correct their mistakes immediately, stop interfering in China's internal affairs using the Tibet issue, and stop harming Sino-U.S. relations.

On Wednesday, China condemned the statements of the White House and the U.S. State Department criticizing China's Tibet policy.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)