China revises regulations on religious affairs

The State Council, China's cabinet, released revised regulations on religious affairs on Thursday.

The revisions protect freedom of religious belief, stipulating provision of public services for religious groups, schools and venues.

Religious communities can hold charity events in accordance with the law, while religious workers are entitled to social security rights, according to the revisions.

The new regulations highlight religious and social harmony, asking for mutual respect between believers and nonbelievers, as well as between believers of different religions.

Neither organizations nor individuals may incite conflict between different religions, within a religion or between believers and nonbelievers, the regulations read.

The revisions include management of religious affairs, covering supervision of religious property and online religious information services.

New problems have emerged in religious affairs due to changing situations at home and abroad, requiring the 2005 regulations to be revised, according to a statement issued by the State Council in September, 2016.

The revised regulations were passed by the State Council on June 14 and take effect on Feb. 1, 2018.