BERLIN, Apr 10, 2002 -- (dpa) German President Johannes Rau stressed respect for religious freedom, human rights and the rule of law during talks with visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Tuesday, officials said.
Welcoming the Chinese leader at the start of a five-day state visit, Rau raised the issue of the Christian church in China, German officials said.
China is officially atheist and Jiang made a point of telling reporters before his trip that he, too, is an atheist. Nevertheless, China has millions of Moslems and Christians. Up to 3 percent of the country's 1.3 billion people are Islamic and 1 percent Christian.
The Chinese constitution grants religious freedom but the state seeks to restrict religious practice to government-authorized religious groups and registered places of worship.
Rau, who is a devout Christian, told Jiang that religion in Germany
peacefully coexisted with culture and the state. The German president is a mainly ceremonial figure but has considerable moral authority.
[…]
http://www.europeaninternet.com/china/news.php3?id=1772294§ion=default
* * *
You are welcome to print and circulate all articles published on Clearharmony and their content, but please quote the source.
more ...