The fourth most senior official in China’s ruling Communist Party, who oversees the country’s national political advisory body, has called for efforts to “ensure law-based management of religious affairs” to make sure that religious activities are “legal, safe and orderly”.
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Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CCPPC), made the remarks during group discussions with the CPPCC’s religious leaders, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“[We must] ensure law-based management of religious affairs, and guide religious leaders and believers to enhance their national and civic consciousness, and awareness of the rule of law,” he was quoted as saying.
“[We must also] ensure that religious activities are legal, safe, and orderly.”
In a government work report delivered on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed the need to “strengthen the rule of law in the governance of religious affairs”, a theme that did not appear in last year’s report.
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The emphasis showed that leaders wanted to be more “above the board” on governance of religious affairs, according to a Beijing-based religious scholar, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.