Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with the delegation to the Eighth World Conference of Religions for Peace in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 21, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

Xinhua, September 1, 2006

Beijing, China -- A Chinese delegation has returned from the Eighth World Conference of Religions for Peace held in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, sources said Friday.

During the conference, the delegation from the Peace Committee of Chinese Religious Circles discussed with world religious leaders global violence and called for active measures to jointly tackle poverty and regional conflict.

Before their departure, top political advisor Jia Qinglin met with the delegation, which was composed of members from the Peace Committee of Chinese Religious Circles.

The theme of the conference coincided with the pursuit of peace and harmony of Chinese religious groups, so the delegation should attend as peace envoys of Chinese religious circles and the Chinese people, said Jia, who is chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

He hoped the delegation would raise awareness of Chinese culture and freedom of religious belief at the conference.

The Religions for Peace conference is the world's largest and most diverse multi-religious assembly. The first conference was held in Kyoto in 1970, and has been hosted on a different continent every five years

About 500 religious leaders and 1,500 representatives of international organizations and civil groups from 100 countries and regions attended this year's conference from Aug. 26 to 29.

A working plan was established at the meeting, urging all religious bodies to oppose the misrepresentation of religion as an excuse for violence.