Русский | DECR Communication Service of the Russian Orthodox Church | February 2, 2009
English translation by Liubov Afonina

Patriarch Kirill received a visit from Ye Xiaowen, Head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs under the State Council of People's Republic of China

On February 2, 2009, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia received a visit from Ye Xiaowen, Head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs under the State Council of People's Republic of China. The meeting took place in the Patriarch's residence in Chisty lane.

Welcoming the guests, the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church said: "We are very pleased that you visited our country on the day of my enthronement".

His Holiness reminded that his last meeting with Ye Xiaowen took place in 2006 during the World Summit of Religious Leaders. At that time the head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs under the State Council of China had the opportunity to speak with the predecessor of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia - Patriarch Alexy II.

"It was a very good meeting and satisfactory conversation - said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. - Since that time our relationship has received many positive developments. I am deeply convinced, that the development of the relations between the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in China is very important for the development and maintenance of good relations between our nations, especially since it is prescribed in the Treaty of good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China in the years 2009 - 2012".

His Holiness also reminded that the contract involves the development of dialogue and cooperation among believers of the leading religious communities in Russia and China. "Therefore, we take your high attention to what happened today in Moscow, especially in the context of all the agreements that were signed between our countries", - said His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

For his part, the Head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs under the State Council of People's Republic of China Ye Xiaowen congratulated Patriarch Kirill's election and enthronement. "Your Holiness enjoys a high reputation in the Russian Orthodox Church, so your elevation to the patriarchal throne is the glory to the Russian people and Russian Orthodox Church", - he stressed.

During the meeting they discussed the process of execution of the agreements reached at the meeting of the World Summit of Religious Leaders in Moscow in July 2006, and as well the results of consideration of proposals earlier submitted to the Chinese side by the Russian Orthodox Church.

During the meeting they also discussed the process of reconstructing the Dormition church on the territory of the Russian Embassy in Beijing. Separately was discussed the problem of ecclesiastical guidance for Orthodox people in Harbin, in Northern China - in the cities of Urumqi, Ghulja (Yining), Labdarin (E'erguna).

On the part of the Russian Orthodox Church, the meeting was attended by the deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, the DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, priest-in-charge of the Orthodox community in Shanghai Archpriest Alexy Kiselevich, the DECR employee D.I. Petrovsky. The Chinese delegation included the Ambassador of People's Republic of China in the Russian Federation Liu Guchang, the head of the 4th Department of the State Administration for Religious Affairs under the State Council of China Liu Jinguang and other government and Embassy members.