A spokesperson with the Chinese foreign ministry slammed the latest report by the US on China's human rights practices, describing the report as "biased" and "groundless."

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China has made great improvements in human rights during the past three decades, a fact that the US has ignored, adding that the US also turned a blind eye to human rights abuses in its own territory.

The remarks came after the 36th annual report on the human rights around the world issued by the US on Friday. It judges some 190 nations, and claims that China's human rights practices worsened in 2012.

"There is always room for improvement on human rights in any country," Hua said, adding that China strongly opposes any country that uses human rights as a tool to interfere with another's internal affairs.

"The differences in social values and political systems make it difficult for the US to approve of China's progress," said Mo Jihong, a human rights professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, adding that Washington's double standard on human rights is a political ploy aimed at diminishing China's international status.

In a counterpoint to the US report, the State Council Information Office issued a report titled Human Rights Record of the United States in 2012 - the 14th year it has issued such a report.

It points out that the US discriminates against women and ethnic minorities and allows rampant gun crime, adding that the US needs to first deal with its own problems.

The US always believes its human rights is impeccable but it is far from what the US government has guaranteed its citizens, said Li Yunlong, professor from the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.