Speech at the 1st Session of the 4th China Committee on Religion and Peace by Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai(2014)

Speech at the 1^st Session of the 4^th China Committee on Religion and Peace (CCRP)

Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai

September 16, 2014

Today, the 1^st Session of the 4^th China Committee on Religion and Peace (CCRP) is held here. Mr. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), will met with all the members attending the session and deliver an important speech. Other top officials including Mr. Du Qinglin and Mr. Ling Jihua will attend the session. Comrade Zhang Qingli will raise the requirements for the work of CCRP on behalf of the CPPCC. This reflects that the Party Central Committee and the CPPCC has been attaching great importance and high concern to the CCRP. We should work hard to learn and carry forward the spirit of the speech of Mr. Yu Zhengsheng, aiming to promote the development of CCRP into a new stage on the principle of focusing on the central task and serving the overall interests.

At this session, a summary of the work of CCRP in the past five years was made. The amendment of regulations was approved, and the new leading group was elected. Following the guidance of the 18^th National Congress of the CPC and the Third Plenary Session of the 18^th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the session went into in-depth study of the important speeches of Mr. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and further defined the direction of the work of CCRP. The session is very successful, with remarkable achievements in building consensus and joining the efforts of different parties. Thank you so much for electing me chairman of the 4^th CCRP. It is very regrettable that I could not attend the session due to other important official duties.

CCRP has experienced an extraordinary journey in the past 20 years. Under the leadership of the CPPCC and the support of all related departments and religious groups, it has been upholding the "flag of peace" and the principles of "friendship, peace, development and cooperation" to play an important role in the religious circle to promote China to go out to the world and let the world understand China better. Since the 1^st session of the 3^rd CCRP Committee, CCRP has been insisting on following the basic principles of the CPC on religious work to promote unity of different ethnic groups and harmony of the religious circle and maintaining social stability and national unification. At the same time, it has been highly motivated to carry out friendly communication with foreign parties for promotion and friendship building. It has been firmly safeguarding the core interests of the country and defending against the religious penetration of the overseas forces. This has expanded the international influence of the Chinese religious circle and promoted a new development of CCRP.

Recalling the past in the light of the present, we deeply cherish the memory of Mr. Zhao Puchu and Mr. Ding Guangxun, founders and former chairmen of CCRP, who showed great love to the country and the religious circle, noble virtue with benevolence and charity, firm stand in safeguarding the country's core interests during international communication as well as sincerity and wisdom in widely building friendship. They should be good examples for us.

This year is the first year for comprehensively deepening the reform and opening-up of China. It is also an important year for fulfilling the 12^th Five-Year Plan. CCRP, consisting of representatives of various religious groups, shows great influence in the Chinese religious circle and among the religious believers. We should unswervingly follow the path adequate to socialist society, carry forward the fine traditions of patriotism, religious piety, high morality and benefits for all living creatures, and work hard to interpret the doctrines of the five major religions to meet the requirements of the current development and social progress, correctly guide the people in the religious circle and the masses believing in the religions to reach extensive consensus, and play an active role in promoting economic and social development. CCRP provides an important platform for the foreign contacts of the CPPCC. We should, under the leadership of the CPPCC, more consciously subject to and serve the overall diplomatic work of the CPC and the country, further safeguard the core interests of the country in the international religious circle and firmly defend against the religious penetration of the overseas forces to make new contribution to the creation of a good international environment for the peaceful development of China.

The 65^th anniversaries of the CPPCC and the new China are coming. So far, China has seen dramatic changes and made remarkable achievements that have drawn the attention of the world. It is the best time to promote the religious development. At the same time, we should cherish and maintain the hard-won good conditions. We should rally closely around the Party Central Committee with Mr. Xi Jinping as the General Secretary to keep confident with the socialist road with Chinese characteristics and related theories and systems and make greater efforts to contribute to the realization of the "Chinese Dream" to bring about a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.