(Beijing – February 28, 2024) At the beginning of the Chinese New Year, leaders of officially sanctioned Christian groups and other religious groups held a nationwide Spring Festival meeting for religious leaders. A senior official of the Chinese Communist Party attended the meeting held in Beijing, led the direction of the discussions, and delivered prescriptive political speeches.
As part of the political united front measures, this senior Chinese official chose to meet with leaders of religious groups in a symposium format during the Chinese New Year, extending New Year greetings to them and expressing hope that religious personnel would become a bridge for communication between the government, religious figures, and the religious masses.
According to the official Chinese mainstream media Xinhua News Agency, Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended a national symposium for religious leaders to celebrate the Spring Festival. Wang Huning, one of the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, expressed appreciation for the work of religious groups in 2023, affirmed their efforts, and expressed expectations for the coming year, outlining hopes for 2024.
Wang Huning emphasized the need for religious groups across the country to study and resolutely follow through on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions on religious work. He called for religious leaders and believers to unite around the Party and the government, serve the Party and the country, and find their position and direction in the process of China’s modernization with Chinese characteristics.
Wang Huning stated that leaders of different religious groups need to support the development of religion in China, follow the guidance of core socialist values, and cultivate in religious figures and believers a growing sense of identity with the motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics; and to promote the sinicization of religion.
He emphasized the need for strict governance of religion, religious personnel should grow in virtue, and strive to cultivate more qualified patriotic religious personnel. They must be reliable politically, proficient in religion, virtuous in the eyes of the public, and useful in critical situations as talented religious personnel.
Wang Huning also stated that the Communist Party and the government value religious work and care about religious figures. Relevant departments in all regions should strengthen communication with the religious community, and conduct various forms of visits and greetings to ensure they enjoy a happy and peaceful Spring Festival.
The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the Islamic Association of China, the Buddhist Association of China, and the Taoist Association of China all sent representatives to attend this meeting ahead of the Spring Festival.
