BEIJING -- A Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday rejected criticism of China's human rights records by an international group, asking them to view the development in China in an objective, fair and rational manner.

"Just as the saying goes, 'only your feet can tell whether the shoes fit.' Only the Chinese people themselves are in the best position to comment on their human rights situation," spokesperson Hua Chunying said in Beijing at a regular press briefing, in response to the criticism of Human Rights Watch.

"We hope relevant sides can look at China's social development in an objective, fair and rational manner. China is a country based on the rule of law, and any violator would be punished according to the law regardless of his status or so-called 'freedom of speech,'" Hua said.

She added that human rights is an important component of China's economic and social development, and China is advancing the human rights cause in accordance with national conditions and people's needs.