China's top political adviser said on Thursday that the advisers should actively guide religious groups to adapt to a socialist society.
In a work report delivered at the opening ceremony of the fourth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Thursday, Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said that top advisery body should foster and provide a greater role for young and middle-aged representatives from religious groups in enhancing religious harmony.
He added that CPPCC members should give recommendations on religious affairs management and the charity work of religious organizations.
Xu Xiaohong, vice president of the Chinese National Christian Three-self Patriotic Movement Committee, was quoted by the China News Service as saying that religious groups should serve as a bond and to guide believers to adapt to a socialist society.
The top political adviser has called on China's top advisery body to better unite ethnic and religious groups, which is listed as one of the year's priorities, and to give representatives from these groups a greater role in promoting harmony.
In addition to fostering representatives from religious groups, Yu also attached importance to the service and management of migrant ethnic people in the urbanization.
Yu said top political advisery body must promote unity between ethnic groups and provide better management and services to ethnic people who move to the city.
The top advisery body has made great contributions to resolving misunderstandings among ethnic groups and safeguarding social stability, Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the Ethnic and Religious Committee of the CPPCC, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Zhu said that one of the body's main tasks this year is to provide support to the poor among ethnic groups and conduct survey on poverty issues in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.
Yu also said that the CPPCC should give more importance to uniting people by strengthening ties with non-Party intellectuals, representatives from ethnic groups and different religions, as well as compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and those in other countries and regions.
Yu also urged better communications and cooperation on culture and trade with Taiwan on the basis of the "1992 Consensus," while enhancing unity and ties with overseas patriots and the younger generation."