Some American Christians do not understand the real situation in China. They pray for China, saying it does not have bibles and they wish to donate bibles to Chinese Christians. This is not true. I hope, through this exhibition, we can improve our mutual understanding.

How do you view the accusation of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that the Chinese Government severely violates freedom of religion and belief and discriminates against individuals on the basis of their religion or beliefs?

What the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said is not true. My own experience and other evidence in China show improvements in China’s religious freedom.

However, we admit that the implementation of the policies on religion is not satisfactory in some particular regions in China because of its large territory. But it is absolutely not true to say the Chinese Government “severely and systematically violates freedom of religion and belief.”

The report issued by USCIRF mentions the International Religious Freedom Act several times. We respect the Act, but we also believe no garbled quotations or double standards should be used in this respect. The China Christian Council and the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China have written to USCIRF to state our position.

How do you regard China’s current religious policy?

The Chinese Government is continuously improving and implementing its policy on religious freedom, and individual Christians enjoy full freedom.

In 2005, China issued the Regulations on Religious Affairs, bringing the policy into the legal system to ensure its implementation. After the regulations were publicized, the Chinese Government promoted them throughout the country.

In 2001, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held the national working conference on religious affairs and pointed out that religious believers were a positive force in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Recently, the Chinese Government has been promoting the establishment of a harmonious society and has been specially stressing the positive role that religion can play.

What has been the development of theological seminaries in China?

China currently has 18 theological seminaries with about 1,800 students. Nanjing Union Theological Seminary in east China’s Jiangsu Province is China’s only national seminary, as well as China’s highest institution for Christian education. Bishop Ding Guangxun is the president. The new campus of the seminary is coming up in the Nanjing Jiangning University City and is expected to enroll 500 students.

We also have five regional theological seminaries covering several provinces, while the rest are provincial theological seminaries or bible schools. In these theological seminaries, we not only teach religion and literacy, but also try to adapt our education to the needs of social progress and church development. We have added several courses such as church management, pastor counseling and church history. In some remote provinces, we even have courses such as basic medical treatment so that our students can better serve the local people after graduation.

Besides the 18 theological seminaries, many provincial and municipal Christian councils and the committee of the TSPM frequently offer basic theological training, offering opportunities for volunteers and believers to participate in church work. In 2005, more than 26,000 people took up such training.