CPPCC chairman extends New Year greetings to religious believers

Yu Zhengsheng (L front), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, shakes hands with one of the leaders of national religious groups in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 26, 2014, to bid greetings to religious believers for the upcoming Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Sunday called on the country's religious believers to understand, support and contribute to the country's reform.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), extended New Year greetings to the country's religious groups and believers on behalf of President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Yu said that in the past year, all religious groups and believers made efforts to score great achievements in launching social service, maintaining stability, deepening foreign exchanges and strengthening self-construction.

To deepen reform, we need enthusiasm and creativity from all sides, Yu said, adding that China has more than 100 million religious believers who are positive forces to construct socialism with Chinese characteristics, and they should be an important power promoting a new round of reform.

Yu called on all religious groups to strengthen organization construction, cultivate young talents, establish consciousness of the nation, laws and citizenship, and lead believers to carry out religious activities in accordance with laws and regulations.

Yu also urged CPC committees and governments at all levels to fully implement the fundamental policies for religious work and pay special attentions to the problems of religious groups and believers in order to ensure all religious believers to enjoy happy and auspicious holidays.