Top political advisor meets Chinese Buddhist delegates

BEIJING -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning has met with delegates attending a national congress of the Buddhist Association of China from Sunday to Monday in Beijing.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, stressed the importance of implementing the Party's basic policy on religious affairs and guiding Buddhist figures and believers to contribute to the country's modernization drive.

Wang urged the association to exercise full and rigorous governance over the religion, intensify efforts to raise awareness of the rule of law, and guide clerical personnel to abide by the law, uphold monastic rules and precepts, and maintain the right faith and conduct.

He encouraged the association to cultivate talent proficient in both the canonical teachings and fine traditional Chinese culture, and to expand exchanges with the wider world on Buddhism.

At its 11th national congress, the association adopted a revised charter and a set of religious rules and regulations, and elected a new leadership for the association.