A senior Chinese leader urged officials Wednesday to have a thorough study of the new Regulations on Religious Affairs, scheduled to take effect on March 1.

During his meeting with the attendees at a workshop in studying the new religious statute, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that officials will better understand how to handle religious affairs and protect citizens' religious freedom through fully grasping the spirit of the new religious statute.

China's first statute covering all religion-related affairs consists of 48 articles and seven chapters which cover religious bodies, religious activities, religious staff and religious property. It was promulgated by the State Council on Nov. 30 last year.

Source: Xinhua