Home>>China
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 07, 2002

Li Ruihuan: China Respects Freedom of Conscience

Li Ruihuan said Wednesday China is committed to its policy of freedom of conscience and respects and protects the legitimate rights of religious believers. He said the principle of religious independence must be constantly upheld and efforts should be made to prevent infiltration using religion as a cover.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND



Li Ruihuan: China Respects Freedom of Conscience

Efforts to increase unity required

Senior Chinese leader Li Ruihuan said Wednesday China is committed to its policy of freedom of conscience and respects and protects the legitimate rights of religious believers.

Addressing a group of leaders from national religious groups, the Chinese leader said efforts should be made to increase unity among religious believers and those without religious affiliation and among believers from different religions.

The religious leaders gathered Wednesday at Zhongnanhai compound, the seat of the Chinese government, in downtown Beijing at the invitation of Li to mark the traditional Chinese lunar New Year, which begins on February 12.

Principle of religious independence upheld

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, called on the religious community to continue its invaluable role of uniting their followers and safeguarding social stability. The principle of religious independence must be constantly upheld and efforts should be made to prevent infiltration using religion as a cover.

Among those attending the gathering were Fu Tieshan, chairman of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, Min Zhiting, president of the Taoist Association of China, Luo Guanzong, chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China, Chen Guangyuan, president of the Islamic Association of China, and Dao Shuren, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China.



  • Meeting Outlines China's Policy on Religion for the New Century

    Chinese President Jiang Zemin called for continued adherence to China's policy of religious independence, and the further consolidation and development of the patriotic united front between the party and the religious circle at a three-day meeting that ended on December 12, 2001 in Beijing.

  • Full text of the editorial on religious work by People's Daily

    In a related development, the People's Daily, carries an editorial on December 13, 2001 in response to the meeting.

    The editorial hails the meeting as an indication of the importance attached to religion by the party and the government, and assured that it will have an important and far-reaching impact on work relating to religion.





    • Questions?Comments? Click here
    		    Advanced

    Islamic Leaders of Different Ethnic Backgrounds Receive Training

    Unite with Religious Believers in Endeavor to Build Socialism the Chinese Way

    Meeting Outlines China's Policy on Religion for the New Century

     



    >> Full Coverage

     

    Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved