Congratulations to Bahraini people on the opening of Ramadan

With respect to the Muslim celebration, observed in all corners of the world, on the occasion of the opening of the blessed month of Ramadan, it honours me on behalf of the Chinese people, together with all the members of the Chinese Embassy in Bahrain, to offer to the Bahraini people, as well as to all friends of Muslims residents in the Kingdom, my sincerest congratulations on the commencement of Ramadan!

Ramadan is a Holy month in which sins are purged from the Muslim heart and body. The tradition of Ramadan represents the apogee of Islamic values -- the loftiest virtues espoused by mankind in a process involving honest introspection combined with mercy for others. In this way, the Holy month spreads affection while embodying the highest manifestation of the Islamic civilised way of life.

In China, 10 Muslim ethnic groups, among which the Uighur and the Hui are ranked, constitute the Chinese Muslim population of 20 million. For a period of more than a millennium of glorious Chinese history, an admixture of different Muslim Chinese ethnic groups coexisted with the countrymen from other Chinese ethnic groups. In cooperation with the latter, Chinese Muslims collectively contributed to the building of the Chinese nation, from its early antecedents until contemporary times, so much so that it would never be possible to erase their exalted share in the scintillation of Chinese civilisation from the pages of history. With the economic and social development of modern China, the Chinese Muslims have played more important role in uniting the Chinese community.

By Constitution and law, the Chinese government respects and protects the rights of the Chinese Muslims in the practice of their religious ceremonies and beliefs. Apart from guaranteed freedom of belief, Chinese Muslims enjoy equal political, economic and social rights with other ethnic groups.  The sum total of mosques in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region exceeds 230,000 and the number of workers employed in the religious sector amounts to 300,000.

More than 20 million Chinese Muslims, just like their Muslim counterparts across the world, observe Ramadan in an atmosphere of peace and security in which their ritual obligations including fasting, prayer and zakat are freely practised.

The bonds of friendship between Muslims in China and Bahrain are continually being renewed spanning a broad trajectory of history. Since the 7th Century AD, strong relations progressively grew between both sides. In this context, the great Silk Road bears witness to the depth of these fraternal relations engrained between the two friendly peoples. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bahrain in 1989, our economic and trade cooperation have progressed. Moreover, the bilateral coordination on regional and international affairs with common interests have been closely conducted.

In relation to this, the historic visit undertaken by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to China in September 2013 brought the extent of links between the two countries to a higher level. During a visit by HM King to one of the major Chinese provinces populated by Muslims in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, he attended the opening ceremony of the first China-Arab Exhibition, and personally gained insight of the conditions not only of Chinese Muslims particularly in that region, but also of the Chinese Muslim society generally in People’s Republic of China.

The Chinese side wholeheartedly supports the strengthening of ties with its Bahraini counterpart, and welcomes an increase in the number of Bahraini compatriots, especially youth, visiting China.

As a final matter, I offer sincere congratulations to the amicable Bahraini people with the start of the blessed month of Ramadan and I wish all brothers and sisters in the Islamic world to enjoy an outstanding month, characterised by peace and happiness!