China will continue to fully support the self-construction of all patriotic religious groups in the country, Jia Qinglin, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Friday.
Jia, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark while visiting leaders of major national religious groups in Beijing, including the Buddhist Association of China, the Taoist Association of China, the Islamic Association of China, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Chinese Catholic Bishops College.
During the visit on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and its General Secretary Hu Jintao, Jia pointed out that to thoroughly study and implement the guidelines of the 16th CPC Congress is now the primary task falling on all the religious groups in China.
He said that a group of religious professionals with varying educational backgrounds and correct political awareness as well as fidelity toward their religions and the country are indispensable in the promotion of the self-construction of religious groups.
Jia also stressed that all the national religious groups should highlight more active factors from their creeds in line with social progress and explore further methods to serve socialist construction.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2003)
