The China Islamic Association held a reception here Friday to celebrate tomorrow's Corban Festival, one of the three most important Islamic holidays.

Chen Guangyuan, president of the association, conveyed holiday greetings on behalf of the association to all Muslim people in the world. He also expressed best wishes to the reception participants.

Senior officials attending the reception included Tomur Dawamat,vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), State Councilor Ismail Amat and Bai Lichen, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Participants at the reception also included diplomatic envoys from Islamic countries as well as foreign Muslim experts working in Beijing

The Corban Festival, celebrated by about 17 million people from10 ethnic groups in China, including the Hui and Uygur, which believe in Islam, falls on the 10th day of the last month of the Hui (Chinese Muslim) calendar.

This year's Corban Festival falls on February 23, and coincides with the Spring Festival period (New Year by the traditional Chinese lunar calendar).

( People's Daily February 24, 2002)