Top political adviser praises work of religious committee

China's top political adviser, Wang Yang, met representatives from the China Committee on Religion and Peace on Wednesday and said the committee has become a window for the country to introduce its religious policies to the world.

"The committee has been actively introducing the real situation of religious freedom in China to the world," said Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

"It has provided an important platform for the country's political advisory body to communicate with the world, and made positive contributions to creating an external environment conducive to China's development," he said.

Established in 1994, the China Committee on Religion and Peace is a nonprofit organization consisting of representatives from the five major religions in China - Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism.

The committee has about 100 representatives who are also members of the National Committee of the CPPCC, the country's political advisory body.

The committee is under the commission for ethnic and religious affairs of the CPPCC.

The committee aims to promote unity and harmony among religious groups and further exchanges and cooperation with religious circles around the world. It also wants to safeguard the unification of the country and strive for world peace and common prosperity.

On Wednesday, the committee reviewed its work report of the past five years and elected new board members. Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, honorary president of the China Buddhist Association, was elected as committee president.

According to the committee's work report delivered during the meeting, it has actively helped China's social development, contributed to regional peace and stability, made progress in opposing violence and religion extremism and promoted human rights.

In the past five years, the committee organized 20 trips abroad and received eight foreign groups to improve its influence internationally, the report said.

It also organized two international meetings and signed three cooperation documents with other international organizations that promote peace among religions, it said.

The committee has always safeguarded the country's dignity and interests during international exchanges, especially when it involves Taiwan and Tibet issues, the report said.

Wang said the committee should continue to guide religions to better adapt to socialist society and find better ways to tell the world about China's religious stories so the country can be heard in religious circles.

He urged committee members to contribute to world peace and the building of a shared future for mankind.