The Islamic Association of China (IAC) held a reception in Beijing Sunday to celebrate the Eid al-Adha, or feast of sacrifice, a major Islamic festival that falls at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Representatives from the National People's Congress, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the State Council attended the reception.

Diplomatic envoys to China from 30-plus Arabic and Islamic countries, foreign Muslim experts, leaders of the IAC and students from Muslim academies were invited to be present.

Chen Guangyuan, president of the IAC, sent good wishes to Muslims both at home and abroad.

The three-day festival is marked by some 10 ethnic groups in China including the Hui and Uygur. China has more than 17 million Muslims in different minority groups.

More than 4,000 Chinese Muslims are participating in the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca this year, according to Chen.

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2004)