Primates of the Global South of the Anglican Communion visit China

At the invitation from the minister of SARA (State Administration for Religious Affairs), ten members of the Primates of the Global South of the Anglican Communion - representing Africa, Asia and the Middle East - made a visit to Beijing, Xian, Nanjing and Shanghai from 21-30 October, 2007. The team discussed the national religious policies and cooperation between the state and the China Christian Council (CCC) and National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Church in China (TSPM).

Their statement reads:

"We wholeheartedly commend the Chinese government for its openness and desire to extend sustainable support to the work of the churches here [in China]. This was expressed in concrete terms by a very significant amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China during the recent 17th National Party Congress. The amendment mentioned the word 'religion' in the Constitution for first time in the history of modern China, and resolves to strengthen the work for the full implementation of the policy of freedom of religion in China."

Source: Francis Wong, ENI writer, Hong Kong.