China's top political advisor on Monday told leaders of Chinese
religious groups that they could try to promote various "positive
religious concepts" to assist the government's drive to build a
harmonious society.
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee
of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference, invited leaders of China's religious groups to
Zhongnanhai, the CPC's compound in downtown Beijing, ahead of the
coming Spring Festival, China's lunar New Year.
Jia, who supervises the country's religious affairs, said
religion in China had made remarkable progress in the past year and
it was important to maintain the harmony and stability in the
religious circle in 2007, when the Communist Party of China is
scheduled to hold its 17th National Congress.
"It's very important to make full use of the 'positive elements'
in religion," Jia said, asking the religious leaders to promote the
religious ideas and acts that can help achieve social harmony and
dissuade believers from taking "disharmonious behaviors".
The concepts of ethnic unity and harmony should be advocated
among religious believers and their petitions and demands should be
heard, said Jia, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of
the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
He also asked religious group leaders to "support the
government's measures to prevent and crack down on separatist
activities instigated and fanned by "overseas hostile forces".
The wisdom and energy of religious believers should better be
directed to activities that make their life more prosperous, Jia
said.
The official estimate of China's religious believers is 100
million. But, in a recent survey, experts say the true number may
be triple.
According to the report, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism,
Christianity and Islam are the five major religions, making up
about 67.4 percent of religious Chinese.
The religious leaders that met Jia in Zhongnanhai were Fu
Tieshan, chairman of the China Patriotic Catholic Association, Yi
Cheng, president of the Buddhist Association, Ren Farong, president
of the Taoist Association; Chen Guangyuan, president of the Islamic
Association, Ji Jianhong, chairperson of the National Committee of
Three-Self Patriotic Movement of Protestant Churches in China, and
Cao Shengjie, president of the China Christian Council.
(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2007)