Photo taken on Jun. 25 shows Sun Chunlan meets with the first batch of graduates in religious circle in Beijing. [Photo/Agencies]

Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, met with the first batch of graduates in religious circle, in Beijing, Jun. 25, 2015.

The graduate class was jointly organized by the United Front Work Department and Renmin University of China.

It is the first group of young and middle-aged people from China’s religious circle to receive higher education. It is also a major effort to enhance personal exchanges between different religious groups and promote religious development.

The graduate school is a three-year full- time program. The class this time started in September 2012 and will end by the end of this June. There are a total of 19 students from five major religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity and they have all played significant role in their religious groups already.

Over the past three years, there has been a marked improvement in the students’ research ability and overall qualities. The improved understanding and communications between them have also laid a solid foundation for long-term harmony between different religions.

During the United Front Work Conference in May, President Xi Jinping emphasized that religious affairs must be managed according to the law, and that they should be adapted to the socialist society through guidance. On Jun. 10, when meeting with the Panchen Lama, he also expressed his expectations and requirements of the young and middle-aged people in the religious circle.

Sun Chunlan proposed three requirements to the graduates.

The first is to be patriotic. They must have a profound understanding that the fate of religion and the motherland are closely related, and firmly work for the unification of the country and all its ethnic groups, as well as contribute to the long-term stability and development of the country.

The second is to actively develop interpretation of religious doctrines. They should guide believers to uphold kindness, denounce wickedness, promote equality and generosity as well as help the needy. They should also actively engage in the cause to incorporate religion into socialist society.

The third is to advance their religious studies and nurture their own virtues. They are expected to grow into religious representatives, who are politically reliable with religious accomplishments, the moral conviction to convince the public and the ability to play significant roles at critical moments.