China's top advisor Jia Qinglin yesterday called on religious groups to use the positive role of religion to help boost social harmony.

 

Religious groups should assist the government in handling relations between religious and non-religious people, as well as between people of different religious beliefs, said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), at a meeting with leaders of religious groups.

 

Jia called for the consolidation and development of stability and harmony in religious circles. China's social and economic development is at a crucial stage, he said. Building a harmonious society requires the joint efforts of the whole Chinese nation, including religious groups.

 

He urged religious groups to regard boosting harmony as an important part of their work and search for ways religion can serve society and the people.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2006)