Senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Jia Qinglin met with the newly elected leaders of the China Taoist Association (CTA) on June 24 in Beijing and called on the Taoists to contribute to China's social and economic progress.

Jia, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, took a group photo with the nearly 300 delegates to the seventh national congress of the association.

Jia said over nearly 50 years since it was founded, the association has made important contributions to China's reform, development and stability.

He called on the new leadership of the association to guide the Taoists to further promote the country's economic and social development and play a due role in building a socialist harmonious society.

The congress elected Ren Farong, 69, as president of the China Taoist Association, succeeding late president Min Zhiting, who died at 80 in 2004.

Taoism, an indigenous Chinese faith that began more than 1,800 years ago, is based on a belief in the Tao -- Chinese for "the way " -- an unseen force that envelops the universe and requires followers to practice in the ways that are most close to the essence of natural rules.

The session also elected twelve vice-presidents, including Zhang Jiyu, who is the 65th generation grandson of Zhang Daoling, the founder of the Taoism.

Founded in 1957, CTA is a national religious body that is designed to promote the Taoist culture, guide local Taoist activities and carry out charity affairs. Currently, China has more than 25,000 Taoist priests.

Source: Xinhua