<P align=center><BR><STRONG>news conference</STRONG><BR></P>
<P align=left><SPAN lang=EN-US>Xinhua, December 27, 2006</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Beijing</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN lang=EN-US>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> -- <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> is scheduled to hold an international forum on Taoism in Hong Kong and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Xi'an</st1:place></st1:City> from April 22 to 27 next year.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>The forum, co-sponsored by the China Religious Culture Communication Association and the Taoist Association of China, is expected to attract more than 300 delegates from around the world.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>Jiang Jianyong, vice president of the China Religious Culture Communication Association and the State Administration of Religious Affairs, said invitation letters had been sent to candidates from 19 countries and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>, Hong Kong and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Macao</st1:State></st1:place>.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>"The purpose of the forum is to carry forward <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s splendid culture ... and Taoism has many positive thoughts that can help people solve conflicts," Jiang said. "It will embody a spirit of openness and tolerance."</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>He said the forum would also be helpful for the construction of a harmonious society in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place> and a harmonious world.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US>According to statistics from the country's religious authority, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place> now has more than 50,000 Taoist priests and more than 5,000 religious sites.</SPAN></P>
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