Madam Chairperson, ‘harmony’ is the essence of Chinese culture and is the highest value of Chinese society. The concept of harmony provides the firm foundation for the harmonious coexistence of China’s different religions. The Chinese government advocates the idea of religious harmony and actively pushes for intra-faith and interfaith harmony, and harmonious relationships between religion and society and between government and religion. In 2010, all national religious groups in China held the Symposium on Promoting Religious Harmony, where the Joint Declaration on Promoting Religious Harmony was made. The Chinese government encourages and supports Chinese religious groups to participate in intercultural and interfaith dialogue in the world. At present, religious groups in China have established friendly relations with religious organizations in more than 80 countries and regions. In 2007, China hosted the third ASEM Interfaith Dialogue where the Nanjing Statement on promoting interfaith dialogue was passed. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

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