国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese leader calls on religious figures to contribute more to economic, social devel

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called on the country's religious figures to make more contributions to economic and social development by innovating and improving social services.

Jia Qinglin, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remark at a meeting Thursday while offering lunar New Year's greetings to religious circles on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Jia Qinglin (front, R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, shakes hands with one of the leaders of the religious groups during an informal discussion sponsored by CPPCC in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2011, to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.

Jia said Chinese citizens' freedom in religious belief was fully protected, and the religious circles had provided excellent services for people from around the world during the Shanghai World Expo and Guangzhou Asian Games last year.

The official asked the religious circles to pay more attention to helping grassroots religious groups and believers and improving their management.