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| Participants rehearse before a celebration marking the 100th founding anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, July 1. EPA-Yonhap |
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Xi said China will further promote "sinicization of religion", with a focus on strengthening control of online religious affairs. He emphasized that religious activities must be conducted within the boundary of the law, according to official Xinhua news agency.
"Religious activities should be carried out within the scope stipulated by laws and regulations ... and should not interfere with educational, judicial and administrative affairs as well as social life," Xi said.
The conference, attended by the country's top leadership, was the first since 2016 and sets the parameters on China's religious affairs and their regulation over the next few years, according to experts.
It took place against a backdrop of widespread accusations of repressive control on Muslims and Christians in China, as well as the country's increasingly tight supervision over religions.
Last month China was among several nations designated by the U.S. as "countries of particular concern" for violations of religious freedom.
In his speech to the conference, Xi said the Communist Party's policy on freedom of religious belief must be "completely, accurately and comprehensively" implemented, and religions must adapt to the fact that China is a socialist country.
"China must adhere to the direction of the sinicization of religion, insist on uniting the masses of religious believers around the party and the government," he said.
Religion has been on a tight leash in China since the introduction in 2015 of the sinicization process, which has brought faith under strict party control with a requirement to align with traditional Chinese culture and reject foreign influence.
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| China's President Xi Jinping / EPA-Yonhap |
Xi highlighted the importance of adopting a holistic view of national security in religious works, and to "strengthen the management of online religious affairs" ― a step up from a 2018 regulation which restricted the distribution of religious information online.
He also stressed that clergy should improve self-education and exercise self-discipline, and keep a close eye on the congregations they managed.
"It is necessary to improve the democratic supervision of religious leaders, and push for the rule of law in religious work, and carry out in-depth publicity and education about the rule of law," Xi said.
Measures for the administration of religious personnel were introduced last February by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, which ordered clergy to embrace the leadership of the Communist Party.
The measures stipulated that religious workers cannot accept overseas appointments or engage in religious activities that would jeopardize China's national security. They must also comply with a rigorous registration process and can only serve one congregation at a time.
Xiong Kunxin, a professor of ethnic studies at Minzu University in Beijing, said it was noteworthy that the conference put special emphasis on strengthening the rule of law in the management of online religious affairs, and religious practitioners would be disciplined for inappropriate online commentary.
"People engaged in religious activities need to follow the same rules just like any ordinary citizens," Xiong said.
"They must abide by the [same] rules and regulations for their online activities, comments and behaviors, and can face punishment for any activities that are harmful to national unity," he added.
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