The Communist Party of China and the government will "out and out" enforce the policy of religious freedom and unswervingly lead religious groups to cater to the country's socialist development, Li Ruihuan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, pledged on January 31 to a group of China's religious leaders.

Li Ruihuan made the remarks at a meeting he hosted for religious leaders at the Zhongnanhai Compound to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival.

Li is also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Li praised the useful contributions made by religious groups and their adherents to the economic progress and social stability of China in 1999, and expressed the hope that they will continue to work for the rejuvenation of China in the future.

Li said the policy of religious freedom is based on a thorough understanding of China's situation over the years, and has never been an "expedient" tactic.

He explained that the policy is consistent with communist theory that the natural laws governing the existence and development of religions cannot be disrupted by governments, and it is consistent with the ultimate goal of the CPC and the Chinese government to serve the people wholeheartedly, and protect the legal rights, including the right to religious belief or disbelief, of all the Chinese people.

Moreover, the policy reflects the Chinese traditional value which stresses "harmony and unity of differences," Li said.

All the major religions in China propagate the ideas of loving the motherland, serving the society, aspiring to good and lofty ideals, and abandoning evils, all of which are positive factors for social progress, Li added.

He asked all religious leaders and religious groups to do their utmost to protect the dignity of state laws, protect the interests of the people, protect unity among ethnic groups, and protect national unity.

Also present at the gathering were State Councilor Ismail Amat, State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wang Zhongyu, and Wang Zhaoguo, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, Ding Guangxun, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and honorary chairman of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China, and leaders from Chinese Catholic, Taoist, Islamic and other religious associations.