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Vital role for religions

BEIJING: China's religions, as an important part of the social forces, may play an active role in helping build a harmonious society if they are properly guided, said an official in charge of the religious affairs here. Ye Xiaowen, director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, the first ever in a decade since Mr. Ye took office in a country with more than 100 million followers of religion. ``Religions are one of the social forces that are worth much attention in the country's social and economic construction,'' he said. ``They can play an active yet unique role in many aspects.'' Mr. Ye said the Chinese Government would work to help the religions restrain their negative elements and promote their positive ones through enhancing management according to the law and adhering to the established practice of running religious affairs in an independent and self-supportive way. ``This is the fundamental basis on which Chinese religions may exercise their roles,'' he said. According to Mr. Ye, China's religious departments will work to help the religions to that end. ``Such work will also offer possibilities to the Government to undertake religious work in a more creative manner, thus scoring more achievements,'' he said.

— Xinhua

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