Translated Text (Official Style)

State Administration for Religious Affairs • China Taoist AssociationMay 16, 2026 | 19:38 | Beijing

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has made major arrangements for systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China. On September 29, 2025, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held its 22nd collective study session on systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China. General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the session and delivered an important speech, fully demonstrating the CPC Central Committee’s high regard for religious work under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping.

In his important speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly elaborated on the historical process and new-era practical experience of the Sinicization of religion in China, scientifically analyzed the new situations and tasks we face, and made comprehensive arrangements and clear requirements for systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China and actively guiding religions to adapt to socialist society.

General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech is high-minded, holistic, and far-sighted. It is strongly political, ideological, and instructive. It enriches and develops the socialist religious theory with Chinese characteristics, represents the latest achievements in adapting Marxist religious views to the Chinese context and the times through the "Two Integrations", elevates the Party’s understanding of the laws governing religion and religious work to a new height, and points the way forward for further creating a new situation in the Party’s religious work in the new era. We must thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, unify our thinking and actions with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and earnestly do a solid job in the Party’s religious work in the new era, so as to make new contributions to comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.

Systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China is a major decision and arrangement of the CPC Central Committee regarding religious work, and an inevitable requirement for actively guiding religions to adapt to socialist society. History and practice have proven that only by continuously advancing the Sinicization of religion in China can we promote religious harmony, ethnic unity, social stability, and long-term national security.

A review of the history of religions in China shows a continuous process of various religions adapting to Chinese society and integrating into Chinese culture. After Buddhism was introduced into China, Master Dao’an of the Eastern Jin Dynasty put forward the view that "without relying on the sovereign, Buddhist affairs cannot be established". Distinctive Chinese Buddhist schools emerged during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Through long-term evolution, Buddhism integrated with Confucianism and Taoism in China, forming unique Buddhist theories.

After Islam was introduced into China, it was mainly the faith of "foreign merchants" during the Tang and Song dynasties. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, Chinese Islamic scholars represented by Wang Daiyu, Ma Zhu, Liu Zhi, and Ma Dexin initiated the "interpretation of Islamic classics with Confucianism", promoting "Islam-Confucianism integration" and advocating "dual loyalty", achieving important breakthroughs in the Sinicization of Islam in China.

After Catholicism was introduced into China, in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, Jesuit Matteo Ricci adopted cultural adaptation strategies, forming the "Ricci Rules". However, in the early Qing Dynasty, the Roman Catholic Church’s ban on Chinese Catholics worshipping ancestors and honoring Confucius triggered the "Chinese Rites Controversy", leading to a "hundred-year ban on Catholicism".

After Protestantism was introduced into China, it launched the "Independence Movement" in the early 20th century, exploring paths for "contextualization" and accumulating experience in achieving self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation.

Since its emergence, Taoism has continuously innovated its doctrines and rules, forming the coexistence of the Quanzhen and Zhengyi schools in the Yuan Dynasty. Looking back at history, both indigenous and foreign religions must be localized and adapted to the times to thrive in China. Systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China is a profound understanding of the laws governing the healthy inheritance of religions in China. We must further apply the historical experience of the Sinicization of religion in China and strengthen our political, ideological, and operational awareness of systematically advancing this cause.

Adapting to the society in which it exists is the trend and law of religion’s survival and development. China is a socialist country, and religions in China exist and operate under socialist conditions, so they must adapt to socialist society.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the CPC led Catholic and Protestant communities in launching anti-imperialist patriotic movements, implementing the principles of independent self-governance of churches and "Three Selves" (self-governance, self-support, self-propagation). It also promoted democratic reforms in religious systems for Buddhism, Taoism, and Islam, abolishing feudal religious privileges and oppressive exploitation systems, guiding religions in China to gradually embark on the path of adapting to socialist society.

Since the reform and opening up, in response to profound social changes and new developments in the religious sphere, the CPC has continuously explored correct solutions to religious issues, gradually formed the Party’s basic policy on religious work, promoted harmony among religious relations, and guided religious personnel and believers to play an active role in economic and social development, accumulating valuable experience in advancing the Sinicization of religion in China.

Entering the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the CPC has placed religious work in an important position in national governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new concepts and measures on religious work. A major innovation is the clear emphasis on adhering to the direction of Sinicization of religion in China, profoundly answering major theoretical and practical questions on this issue, and guiding religions in China to take new steps in adapting to socialist society.

Practice has proven that only religions that adapt to socialist society and achieve Sinicization can contribute to social stability and people’s well-being, and play an active role in promoting social development.

We must adhere to the direction of Sinicization of religion in China, guide religious communities to take core socialist values as the guide, integrate the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture, and interpret religious doctrines and canons in a way that conforms to Chinese national conditions and Chinese culture.

We will support Buddhist and Taoist communities in promoting the Sinicization of doctrines and canons, and carry forward the fine traditions of compassion, tolerance, harmony, and goodwill. We will support Islamic communities in adhering to the orientation of patriotism and love for religion, and promote the Sinicization of Islam. We will guide Catholic and Protestant communities in strengthening theological construction, focusing ideological development on the Sinicization of religion in China.

We will guide religious communities to deeply examine and systematically sort out issues within their religions that are incompatible with the new era and inconsistent with the requirements of Chinese-style modernization. We will uphold the principle of upholding fundamentals and breaking new ground, and advance reform by addressing both symptoms and root causes. In accordance with national laws and regulations, we will timely adjust and reform religious rules and systems, improve religious organizational structures and management models, and abolish outdated customs that do not meet the requirements of social progress.

We will support religious communities in exercising strict self-governance, strengthen the enforcement of religious rules, resolutely rectify unhealthy tendencies within religions, and increase disciplinary action against religious personnel who violate rules and precepts. We will support religious communities in carrying out educational activities themed "Studying Laws and Regulations, Abiding by Precepts, Emphasizing Self-cultivation, and Setting Good Examples", enhancing their capacity for self-education, self-management, and self-restraint. We will guide believers to abandon outdated customs, respect social norms, and adopt healthy and civilized lifestyles.

Governance of religious affairs in accordance with the law is the fundamental way to properly address various contradictions and issues in the religious sphere. We must adhere to the principles of protecting legality, curbing illegality, containing extremism, resisting infiltration, and combating crime, and comprehensively advance the rule of law in religious work.

We will promptly translate the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and arrangements on religious work and effective practices from on-the-ground experience into laws and regulations through legal procedures, providing a legal basis for governing religious affairs in accordance with the law.

We will promote strict law enforcement in the religious sphere, strictly implement the provisions of national laws and regulations on religious affairs, thoroughly enforce the Regulations on Religious Affairs and its supporting rules, and strengthen standardized management of religious organizations, personnel, activities, and finances.

We will carry out in-depth publicity and education on the rule of law, guide religious personnel and believers to correctly understand and handle the relationship between national laws and religious precepts, firmly establish the universal understanding that the state is above religion, national laws take precedence over religious precepts, and believers are first and foremost citizens, and consciously conduct religious activities within the scope permitted by laws and regulations.

We will deepen governance of religious affairs, improve long-term governance mechanisms, resolutely resist foreign religious infiltration, continue to address illegal religious activities in accordance with the law, and resolve issues of "de-Sinicization" and "anti-Sinicization", so as to safeguard normal order in the religious sphere.

Upholding the Party’s leadership is the fundamental guarantee for doing a good job in religious work. We must uphold the Party’s overall leadership over religious work, enhance systemic integrity and coordination, and form a synergy for systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China.

Party committees at all levels must assume the primary responsibility for religious work, fully implement the Party’s new-era theories, principles, and policies on religious work, further raise awareness of the great significance of systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China, place this work high on the agenda, and promptly study and resolve major issues in its implementation.

We will give full play to the coordinating role of the Party Committee’s Leading Group on United Front Work, implement the responsibility system for religious work, consolidate the primary, territorial, and regulatory responsibilities of all regions and departments, and improve a religious governance pattern featuring Party leadership, government administration, social coordination, and religious self-governance.

United front departments at all levels will take the lead in coordination, religious work departments will be responsible for specific implementation, relevant departments will work closely together, and mass organizations such as trade unions, Communist Youth League, women’s federations, and associations for science and technology will leverage their respective strengths to jointly promote religious work.

Guided by the Party’s innovative theories, we will focus on major theoretical and practical issues in systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China, and strengthen research on strategic, fundamental, and practical issues.

We will incorporate research on systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China into the development of Marxist religious studies, strengthen systematic and theoretical research and interpretation, theoretically clarify the principles, theories, and philosophies behind it, and build a theoretical system for the Sinicization of religion in China.

We will strengthen international engagement and exchanges in the religious sphere, enhancing the international discourse and persuasiveness of the cause of systematically advancing the Sinicization of religion in China.

We will cultivate a team of Party and government cadres who are proficient in Marxist religious views, familiar with religious work, and skilled in engaging with religious believers. We will strengthen education and training on Marxist religious views, the Party’s new-era theories and policies on religious work, and basic religious knowledge, improving their work capabilities and giving play to their leading role.

We will cultivate a contingent of religious representatives who are politically reliable, religiously accomplished, morally respected, and dependable in critical moments. We will strengthen civic, rule-of-law, political, and cultural education, and develop high-level "dual-competent" talents proficient in both religious classics and fine traditional Chinese culture, giving play to their exemplary and leading role.