Senior leader urges religious groups to promote development, harmony

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Chinese media) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin

called for religious groups across the country to play a more active role in

promoting economic development and social harmony.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political

Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks Tuesday when meeting with

heads of religious groups in China.

Jia first bid greetings to China's religious population for the upcoming

Lunar New Year, which falls on January 26 this year.

He said religious groups in China had played an important role in China's

economic development and social stability in 2008, by contributing to the

disaster relief work, supporting the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, and

denouncing the Lhasa riot in March last year.

The year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of establishment of new China, Jia

said, urging China's religious groups to make further contributions to celebrate

the event.

Religious groups should stick to the cause of socialism with Chinese

characteristics, Jia said, and play a more active role in maintaining steady

economic growth and social harmony.

Religious groups should also promote patriotism and make sure that leaders

of religious groups were loyal to both their religions and to their country, he

said.

Jia also urged local governments and Party departments to protect the legal

rights of religious groups and address their difficulties in time, especially

for those who were economically-challenged or lived in disaster-stricken areas,

he said.