Committee provides voice for nation's major religions

The China Committee on Religion and Peace has become an effective platform to air the voices of religious groups from five major religions in China - Buddhism, Taoism, Islamism, Catholicism and Protestantism - on the international stage and clear up misunderstandings, the deputy chairman of the nonprofit organization said on Tuesday.

Based in Beijing, the CCRP was established in June 1994 and consists of representatives from China’s five major religions. Most of the representatives are the members of the national committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

"The main purpose of the organization is to promote peace worldwide," said Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, during the 1st Plenary Session of the 4th Committee of the CCRP in Beijing on Tuesday. "People from aboard have different views and perspective about religions in China and the CCRP could help to explain the real situation in China during international events such as the World Conference of Religions for Peace, especially on religious issues related to the Tibet autonomous region and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region."

The CCRP joined the WCRP in 1994 and the Asian Conference of Religion for Peace in 1996 as the only state affiliate representing China in the two organizations.

"We understand that some people have misunderstandings about religious issues in China," said Chen Guangyuan, deputy chairman of the CCRP and president of the China Islamic Association. "We never avoid such conflicts. Instead, we always tell them our point of view."

The number of conflicts caused by religious extremism has been increasing worldwide and China and the CCRP stand firmly against religious extremism and will make the best efforts to prevent its penetration into China, Chen said.