China criticizes Spanish media for insulting Chinese

China on Thursday urged Spanish media to dispell negative effects after broadcasting a TV program that insulted the Chinese.

"We urge Spanish television to face up to its mistakes, respond to the justified demands of the public with sincerity, dispell the negative effects of the incident as soon as possible and avoid similar incidents in the future," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular news briefing.

Spanish TV Channel Five on May 15 broadcast a program with video images showing a Chinese person turned away from a bar because a sign said "Chinese and dogs prohibited."X The Spanish television channel has repeatedly broadcast programs that humiliate the Chinese, which is against the news media's social responsibility and professional ethics, Hong said.

He said that for a long time Chinese nationals and persons of Chinese descent living in Spain have abided by the law, integrated into the local community and contributed to the economic and social development and diversity of the country.