Jiangxi to host 3rd International Taoist Forum

China will host the Third International Taoist Forum in Yingtan, Jiangxi province, to push forward Taoist learning and practice, the country's Taoist association has announced.

The forum, to be held on Nov 25 and 26 at Longhu Mountain, will be attended by close to 180 Taoist experts and practitioners from more than 20 countries, said Zhang Jiyu, vice-president of the Chinese Taoist Association, at a news conference on Wednesday.

The forum will have the theme of "practicing Taosim and setting up moral role models, benefiting the people and society", and include meetings on topics ranging from health through environmental protection.

Jiang Jianyong, deputy director of the China Religious Culture Communication Association, said the forum will help display the unique charm of Taoism and further promote the Chinese traditional culture.

It will also help increase the impact of Chinese Taoism worldwide and enhance international exchanges on the subject, he said.

The forum will use new media, including micro blogs and websites, to better connect with the audience. It will also have three televised forums, Zhang said.

Hu Youtao, vice-governor of Jiangxi province and director of the organizing committee of the forum in Jiangxi province, said it will be held in accordance with standards of international forums and observe official frugality rules.

The first and second international Taoist forums were held in Xi'an and Hong Kong in 2007 and Nanyue, Hunan province, in 2011.