China: China held its first international religious meeting yesterday since the communist revolution in 1949 when hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns gathered for a congress which is being seen as a sign of growing religious tolerance.
The timing of the meeting to coincide with Easter is no accident, as it sends out a message of religious tolerance shortly before President Hu Jintao travels to Washington to meet President Bush, a devout Christian who has urged China to allow greater religious freedom.
Around 1,000 Buddhist monks and theologians from 30 countries gathered in the eastern city of Hangzhou for the congress.
There have been numerous signs of warming relations between Beijing and the main organised religions of late. As well as signs that Beijing might recognise the Vatican by 2008, there have been indications that the Dalai Lama may be allowed to visit China.
While the core message was harmony, the meeting was dominated by the presence of Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, a controversial figure anointed by the communists while still a child, and the absence of the world's best-known Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama.
Gyaltsen Norbu was named as Panchen Lama, the Himalayan region's second-most important religious figure, in 1995. The Dalai Lama's nominee is thought to be under house arrest.
Now 16, Gyaltsen Norbu defended China's record on religion.
The Chinese see the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist, who wants to wrest control of Tibet away from China and declare independence for 2.7 million Tibetans. He has lived in exile in India since 1959 when he fled his homeland after a failed uprising.
The Dalai Lama insists he wants autonomy, not independence, and has asked to be allowed to come to China.
One Tibetan monk, the abbot of a monastery in Sichuan province, said the Dalai Lama was missed. "The Dalai Lama should have been here and we would welcome him. It's a great opportunity and this congress is very precious to us."
China has about 100 million Buddhists, with around 16,000 temples, and Buddhism is seen as less of a threat than other religions as it is not centrally organised and has its roots in Chinese culture.
Delegates emphasised the theme of the forum - "a harmonious world begins in the mind" - which echoes President Hu's campaign to build a "harmonious society" in the face of rising domestic unrest.
"The world is not a peaceful place: there are wars and terrorism and I believe the congress can help solve this. Put people first, build a harmonious society - these slogans can help people purify their minds," said Yang Zengwen, a professor of world religion at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.