The new rules reinforced and improved the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens within the Territory of the People's Republic of China adopted in 1994.

The detailed rules stipulated that the Chinese government respects the freedom of religious belief of aliens within Chinese territory, and protects and administrates the religious activities of aliens within Chinese territory in accordance with law.

The rules said that aliens may participates in religious activities at Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, mosques, churches lawfully registered within Chinese territory according to their own religious belief.

Consented by Chinese religious bodies, aliens within Chinese territory may invite Chinese religious personnel to conduct such religious ceremonies as baptism, wedding, funeral, Taoist or Buddhist rites according to each religious customs, according to the rules.

The rules added that aliens entering Chinese territory may carry religious articles used in religious cultural and academic exchanges in accordance with relevant programs and agreements of religious cultural and academic exchanges.

The rules stipulated that aliens visiting China as religious personnel may preach and expound the scripture at lawfully registered sites for religious activities. They may also come to China for teaching at Chinese religious institutions.

Chinese national religious bodies may select religious personnel for study abroad and aliens may also study at Chinese religious institutions according to the provisions concerned.

The rules said that the collective religious activities of aliens within Chinese territory shall be conducted at Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, mosques, churches recognized by the departments of religious affairs of the people's government at or above the county level, or at the temporary sites appointed by the departments of religious affairs of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities.

Aliens performing religious activities within Chinese territory are required to abide by Chinese laws and regulations concerned and are not allowed to interfere in Chinese religious affairs. The rules have definite and detailed terms in this regard.

The State Administration of Religious Affairs had widely solicited opinions from people concerned during the drafting of the rules and the promulgation of the rules is regarded as an important measure for strengthening the administration of the religious affairs by law.

(Xinhua 09/26/2000)