Top political advisor extends festival greetings to religious personages, believers

BEIJING -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang Tuesday extended Spring Festival greetings to religious personages and believers nationwide on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, extended the greetings at a symposium with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Lunar New Year.

Wang called on the religious groups to fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious affairs, follow the revised regulations on religious affairs, and provide active guidance.

He also encouraged those in the religious sector to continue playing active roles in poverty alleviation and disaster relief.

Religious groups are bridges linking the Party and the government with religious personages and believers, Wang said, noting that the Party and the government will continue giving high attention to the solidarity and cooperation with religious personages, supporting the work of religious groups, and safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests.