As China's first major international Buddhist forum since 1949 is set to open later this week, a senior Chinese religion official stressed in Beijing Wednesday that the government treats all religions equally.

Asked whether the government prefers Buddhism to other religions, Qi Xiaofei, Vice President of China's Religious Culture Communication Association, said international religions, including Buddhism, have all contributed to human civilization.

He acknowledged that Buddhism, with its 2,000-year history in China, is more closely related to Chinese traditions and has a deeper influence on the Chinese public.

"Chinese culture values harmony, which is quite similar to Buddhist concepts. That's why Buddhism is more popular in China," he said.

More than 1,000 Buddhist monks, experts and politicians from 34 countries and regions will attend the First World Buddhist Forum in the scenic cities of Hangzhou and Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang Province. The forum runs from April 13-16 and its theme is: "A harmonious world begins in the heart".

When asked about the possibility of holding international forums on other religions, Qi stressed that the government treats all religions equally, but to hold an international religious meeting demands consensus and support of the believers as well as public understanding and cooperation.

"Things happen naturally if conditions are ripe," said Qi.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)