BEIJING, Dec 13 (Reuter) - China's cultural guardians have banned imports of art they see are aimed at splitting China or interfering in its internal affairs, the official media said on Friday.

A Ministry of Culture meeting that concluded in Beijing on Thursday had drawn up the policy, which would judge imports of foreign art including cultural performances and other forms of entertainment based on how it could serve China.

"It is an important task for China to resist the infiltration of decadent culture from abroad, as many developed countries have been shipping their values to developing countries," the China Daily quoted Li Yuanchao, vice-minister of culture, as telling the meeting.

China would ban imports of "artistic activities with the goal of splitting China and its nationalities" as well as art "with the goal of interfering in China's internal affairs," Xinhua quoted Yuan Xue, deputy director of the ministry's External Relations Bureau, as saying.

China said last month that U.S.-based entertainment giant Walt Disney Co would be wrong to make a film praising the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

Beijing accuses the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner of creating unrest in the Himalayan region.

"The Chinese government will further encourage foreigners to give performances and hold exhibitions in China, but it will firmly ban decadent cultural ideas and practices from abroad," Xinhua said.

Also falling under the censor's axe would be art that opposed the socialist system or promoted superstition, pornography, violence or drugs, the news agency said.

In response to Chinese pressure on Disney, dozens of prominent Western film industry figures signed a letter accusing Beijing of trying to impose worldwide censorship on China-related movies.

The letter said China's warning to Disney was the latest step in a continuing effort by Beijing to censor the film industry. They included a list of 12 occasions in which they believed the Chinese government had interfered with productions.

Disney has said it will go ahead with the U.S. release of "Kundun" despite China's objections. Beijing has denied putting pressure on Disney to withdraw backing for the film.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 to India after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule and since then has waged a non-violent campaign for autonomy for his homeland.