Story number 2 for 20 Dec 2002

(China)–Next, China is ranked 12th on Open Doors’ “World Watch List” of countries where Christians are the most severely persecuted. This week, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs, completed high-level talks in Beijing with Chinese officials. China watchers were hoping that the fair treatment of house church Christians was also high on the agenda. According to reports, China has agreed to meet the leaders of the U.S. Commission of Religious Freedom in the spring.