Promoting Religious Harmony and Serving Scientific Development

During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period ^[1], religious work persisted in taking the Scientific Outlook on Development as its guide, comprehensively implemented the Party's basic focal points for religious work, thoroughly applied the Regulations on Religious Affairs, focused on promoting harmonious religious relations, and gave full play to the initiative of religious figures and believing masses. This has made positive contributions to promoting scientific development and facilitating social harmony.

I. The Understanding of Religious Issues Continues to Deepen

The Party Central Committee, with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, has attached great importance to religious issues. Based on profound changes in the international and domestic situations, the Committee has grasped the basic laws of religion under new circumstances. From the strategic height of the overall development of the Party and state undertakings, it has produced a series of new summations and formulations, deepening the understanding of religious issues, enriching the Party’s theories and policies on religious work, and effectively guiding and promoting religious work.

The 17th Party Congress proposed the comprehensive implementation of the Party's basic focal points for religious work, namely: comprehensively implementing the Party's policy on freedom of religious belief, managing religious affairs in accordance with the law, adhering to the principle of independence and self-management, and actively guiding religion to adapt to socialist society. The formal establishment of this "four-sentence" basic focal point is a high-level summation of the practical experience of religious work since the founding of New China and the latest distillation of the Party's theories and policies on religious work; it has become the guiding ideology and action guide for doing religious work well under new circumstances.

To build a socialist harmonious society, we must handle relations in various aspects on the basis of economic and social development. The Central Committee has proposed that religious relations are a major set of relations involving the overall situation of the Party and state's work. Correctly understanding and handling religious relations and maintaining and promoting religious harmony concern the overall situation of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the process of building a socialist harmonious society, and the prosperity, development, long-term stability, and security ^[2] of the Party and the state. We must enhance our sense of responsibility and mission in religious work, comprehensively implement the Party's basic focal points, and strive to achieve harmonious coexistence between religion and society, between different religions, and between believing and non-believing masses, as well as masses who believe in different religions.

To promote economic and social development, we must unite all forces that can be united and mobilize all positive factors that can be mobilized. The Central Committee has proposed that we should give play to the positive role of religious figures and believing masses in promoting economic and social development. The proposal of this important discourse requires us to view the social role of religion with a scientific attitude, put greater effort into bringing out the positive role of the religious community and guiding religion to adapt to socialist society, and encourage religious figures and believing masses to actively devote themselves to the great cause of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thereby opening up a new realm for religious work.

Doing work among the believing masses is the fundamental task of religious work. Through thorough and meticulous ideological and political work, we must ensure that the believing masses sincerely support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system; firmly establish national awareness, citizenship awareness, and legal awareness; consciously safeguard national unity, ethnic solidarity, and social stability; and actively devote themselves to the great process of accelerating socialist modernization. We must persist in putting people first, show sincere concern for the believing masses—especially those in financial difficulty—help them solve practical problems, and organize and support them in actively developing production, improving their lives, and achieving prosperity through hard work, so that the believing masses truly feel the care and warmth of the Party and the government.

During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, Party and government cadres at all levels, especially leading cadres, further improved their understanding of religious issues, and their capacity for religious work was significantly enhanced. Party committees, governments, and relevant departments at all levels have paid more attention to religious work. The management system and mechanism—characterized by the unified leadership of the Party committee, joint management by the Party and government, comprehensive coordination by religious work departments, specialized responsibilities for relevant departments, and the participation of all sectors of society—have become more refined.

II. The Level of Law-Based Management of Religious Affairs has Significantly Improved

The promulgation and implementation of the Regulations on Religious Affairs have powerfully promoted the process of legalization in religious work. During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, through the implementation of these regulations, the concept of promoting religious work through the rule of law was strengthened, and the capacity and level of law-based management of religious affairs were significantly improved.

To implement the Regulations on Religious Affairs, the State Administration for Religious Affairs formulated and issued several supporting regulations and normative documents, including the "Measures for the Approval and Registration of the Establishment of Venues for Religious Activities," the "Measures for the Filing of Religious Clergy," the "Measures for the Establishment of Religious Colleges," the "Measures for the Management of Tibetan Buddhist Temples," and the "Measures for the Financial Supervision and Management of Venues for Religious Activities (Trial)." Based on the principle of legal uniformity, 17 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) formulated or revised local religious regulations and government rules. Through these efforts, a legal system for religious affairs—with the Constitution as its core and including administrative regulations, local regulations, departmental rules, and local government rules—is taking shape. The main aspects of religious affairs management have basically realized a state where there are laws to follow.

Through the implementation of the Regulations on Religious Affairs, the Party's religious policies have been effectively applied, the right of citizens to freedom of religious belief has been effectively protected, and the legitimate rights and interests of religious figures and believing masses have been fully guaranteed. Party committees and governments at all levels have taken the initiative to perform practical deeds for the religious community, helping religious groups, colleges, and activity venues solve practical difficulties and improving the conditions for their offices, schooling, and normal activities. Incidents that hurt the religious feelings of the believing masses have been handled according to law, and mutual respect and harmonious coexistence between believing and non-believing masses have been advocated. Issues involving the demolition and relocation of religious group properties and activity venues during urban construction were properly handled, and efforts to coordinate the resolution of historical legacy issues regarding religious property continued. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Administration for Religious Affairs jointly issued the "Opinions on Properly Solving Social Security Issues for Religious Clergy," incorporating religious clergy into the social security system, which was widely welcomed by the religious community.

Through the implementation of the Regulations on Religious Affairs, the status of religious work departments as subjects of law enforcement was further clarified, and the legal awareness of religious work cadres was further enhanced. They have become more conscious in standardizing administrative behavior, and their capacity for administration in accordance with the law has further improved. Significant results have been achieved in using legal means to crack down on key and difficult problems in religious work and in resisting infiltration activities by overseas forces using religion. Law-based management of religious affairs has gradually become the primary mode of religious work.

Through the in-depth and extensive "Fifth Five-Year Plan" for legal dissemination ^[3] and the publicity and training regarding the Regulations on Religious Affairs, the concept of observing discipline and law among religious figures and the broad believing masses has significantly strengthened. They have become more conscious in conducting normal religious activities within the scope permitted by law, more conscious in using legal means to protect their own legitimate rights and interests, and more conscious in resisting all illegal and criminal activities that use religion to undermine ethnic solidarity and social stability.

III. The Construction of Patriotic Religious Groups has been Further Strengthened

During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, efforts were actively made to promote the self-construction of religious groups, giving full play to their role as bridges and bonds connecting the Party and government with the believing masses, achieving significant results.

Centering on the theme of promoting social harmony, religious circles were guided to excavate content from religious thought, doctrine, and ethics that adapts to the requirements of the progress of the times. The work of "interpreting scriptures" in Islam has progressed steadily, the "construction of theological thought" in Christianity has deepened, the "democratic management of the church" in Catholicism has been strengthened, and "sermon exchange" activities in Buddhism and Taoism have been effectively carried out. The ideological foundation for religion to adapt to socialist society has become more solid.

To effectively implement the Regulations on Religious Affairs, various national religious groups were guided to formulate more than 10 management measures, such as those for the identification of religious clergy and the appointment of primary teaching staff at venues for religious activities. They revised their charters and perfected various rules and systems, creating an atmosphere of operating according to the law and regulations. Internal management has become more standardized, and self-management capabilities have significantly increased.

The nationwide launch of activities to "Create Harmonious Temples and Churches" was actively responded to and participated in by religious figures and believing masses. This has powerfully promoted the self-management of religious activity venues and mobilized the initiative of these venues to serve society and benefit the people.

In accordance with the requirements of being "politically reliable, academically accomplished, and capable of commanding public respect," cultivation methods were innovated and training channels were opened. Efforts were made to strengthen the ranks of religious clergy, with a focus on cultivating young and middle-aged patriotic religious figures, effectively alleviating the situation of a "green-yellow gap" ^[4] in the ranks of clergy. Various national religious groups successively completed their leadership transitions, the leadership bodies have basically achieved youthfulness, and the transition from the old generation to the new has been smoothly realized.

IV. The Religious Community is More Proactive in Playing a Positive Role

During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, greater importance was attached to playing the positive role of the religious community. Religious figures and believing masses were encouraged to actively participate in economic and social construction; the religious community has become more proactive in serving society and more conscious in serving the country.

From the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, the snow and ice disasters in the South, and the drought in the Southwest, to the Morakot typhoon in Taiwan, the Yushu earthquake in Qinghai, and the mudslide in Zhouqu, Gansu—in the face of disasters, the religious community has carried forward the spirit of "great love" characterized by "assistance from all sides when one place is in trouble." They have consistently been among the first to extend a helping hand, donating money and goods and providing whatever relief they could. When the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission commended advanced collectives and individuals in the Yushu earthquake relief, the religious community was included in the commendation for the first time, which was a full affirmation of its disaster relief actions.

During the hosting of the Beijing Olympics, the Shanghai World Expo, and the Guangzhou Asian Games, China's religious community responded to the call of the Party and government. With a sense of ownership, they consciously maintained stability in the religious field, actively provided religious services, took the initiative to publicize China's religious policies, played a positive role, and displayed a good image of China's religious community.

The religious community has carried forward the fine tradition of "helping the world and benefiting the people," actively exploring new ways to serve society and conducting various forms of public welfare and charitable undertakings. They have done a great deal of work in poverty alleviation, elderly care, disability assistance, donating to education, and ecological protection, receiving praise from all sectors of society.

V. Religious Exchanges are Developing Healthily

During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, China's religious community actively carried out friendly exchanges and interactions on the basis of equality, served the great cause of national reunification, and played a unique role for religion in people-to-people diplomacy.

In accordance with the principles of "mutual non-subordination, non-interference, and mutual respect," friendly exchanges with religious circles in Hong Kong and Macau were actively conducted, and religious exchanges with Taiwan were strengthened, enhancing understanding and friendship among the religious communities of the "four regions across the Strait" ^[5].

Innovative methods for religious external publicity were explored, including new channels for religious foreign exchange. The "Exhibition of the Bible Ministry of the Chinese Church" was held in the United States and Germany; the "China-Singapore Religious Culture Exhibition" was held in Singapore; the "China-Indonesia 2010 Islamic Cultural Performance" was held in Indonesia; and the large-scale Buddhist symphony "Divine Land Harmony" (Shenzhou Hele) was performed in multiple countries and regions. These events publicized China's policy of freedom of religious belief, advocated the concept of religious harmony, and produced a positive influence.

The religious community has participated more proactively in activities in the international religious field, hosting two World Buddhist Forums and the first International Tao Te Ching Forum. It participated in international conferences such as the ASEM Interfaith Dialogue and joined activities of international organizations such as the World Council of Churches, the World Fellowship of Buddhists, and Religions for Peace. These efforts publicized the proposition of building a harmonious world together, established China's image as peaceful, open, and inclusive, and sought to gain the "right to speak" ^[6] in the international religious field.

Importance was attached to cooperation and dialogue on religious human rights. China participated in the UN Human Rights Council sessions and multiple bilateral and multilateral human rights dialogues with the US, EU, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, and Norway. China clarified its position on religious issues and, in response to the acts of Western countries attacking China's religious freedom status, provided clarifications and rebuttals, conducting a struggle that was "just, advantageous, and with restraint" ^[7].

The practice of religious work during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period fully proves that to do religious work well under new circumstances, we must persist in taking the Scientific Outlook on Development as our guide, firmly establish a Marxist view of religion, persist in serving the overall situation of the Party and state’s work, comprehensively implement the Party's basic focal points for religious work, thoroughly apply the Regulations on Religious Affairs, accurately grasp the basic laws of religion under new circumstances, use an innovative spirit to promote the resolution of new situations and new problems arising in the religious field, and continuously improve the scientific level of religious work.

The goals and tasks of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" place new requirements on religious work. We must continue to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, persist in taking Deng Xiaoping Theory and the "Three Represents" as our guide, thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, adhere to the main theme and main line ^[8], strengthen research and investigation, summarize experience, improve policies, enhance management, mobilize the initiative of religious figures and the believing masses, and promote religious harmony to create a favorable social environment for realizing the goals and tasks of economic and social development during the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" period.