BEIJING, Dec 12 (AFP) - China unveiled a policy on the importation of foreign cultural items Thursday, vowing to "firmly ban decadent cultural ideas and practices from abroad."

The policy was announced at a national meeting on cultural exchanges with foreign countries which closed in Beijing Thursday, the official Xinhua news agency said.

It quoted Yuan Xue, a deputy director in the ministry of culture as saying China would encourage some imports "based on the principles of making foreign things serve China, enriching people's cultural lives and developing the country's cultural sphere."

They include performances and exhibitions given by top-rated foreign artists and organizations, such as world-famous symphony orchestras and musical conductors;

However, Yuan said China bans the import of "artistic activities with contents opposing China's socialist system" as well as those "with the goal of splitting China and its nationalities."

The ban list also covers "artistic activities aimed at interfering in China's internal affairs," "that have decadent contents or vulgar forms," "superstition, pornography, violence or drug addiction" and "activities that may do harm to young people's physical and mental health."

Yuan added that, "arts that have developed unique forms and are popular on the world scene, such as rock'n'roll," would be imported "in a selective manner," and specialists would be allowed "to observe and study them and use them for reference."

The ministry of culture is the only official department that is authorized to examine and approve foreigners' applications to carry out artistic activities in China, Xinhua said.

The import policy was unveiled on the same day Beijing attacked Hollywood stars who have accused it of trying to block a film about Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

"Neither the Chinese government nor the authorities concerned have put any pressure on the Walt Disney Company" over the film, foreign ministry spokesman Shen Guofang said.

Forty-one Hollywood stars, including Paul Newman, Richard Gere, and Barbra Streisand said in a letter to the Chinese ambassdor to Washington, Li Daoyu, they had become "increasingly alarmed at the Chinese government's attempts to dictate what artistic projects can be undertaken in or on China."

"Those who sent the letter do not understand the situation," Shen replied.

Disney Studios has resisted pressure from Beijing over "Kundun," a movie about the Dalai Lama, whose non-violent campaign to preserve Tibetan Buddhism and oppose China's annexation of his Himalayan homeland has annoyed Beijing for decades.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The letter lauded Disney's stand against the Chinese government even though Beijing has hinted that the film could jeopardize the company's plans to build a theme park near Shanghai.

China's efforts to "restrict the right of producers, directors, distributors, writers, and others to freedom of expression are wholly unacceptable," said the letter, dated December 10.