China to publish info of legal religious venues

BEIJING - China is to publish online details of all registered Buddhist and Taoist venues, a move to root out illegal religious activities.

Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, made the remarks at a national conference on religious work on Friday.

The basic information, certification and an online database will be completed within two years, said Wang.

China has already made public information on 16,140 Buddhist and Taoist temples and venues in 14 provincial-level regions. Information available online includes names and addresses of religious venues as well as people in charge.

Making such information available is expected to facilitate public supervision and prevent illegal religious activities practiced outside legal places, protecting the legal rights and interests of the religious circle and followers, Wang said.