The Islamic Association of China (IAC) will set up a special
office to assist Chinese Muslims making pilgrimages to Mecca in
Saudi Arabia.
The measure was written into the amendment of the IAC
Constitution passed by the eighth session of the Chinese Islamic
Congress concluding in Beijing Thursday.
"This is the first time China has set up a special pilgrimage
service for the country's 20 million Muslims," IAC vice-chairman
Yang Zhibo told Xinhua Friday.
Chinese law on religious affairs makes the IAC responsible for
organizing pilgrimages for Muslims.
Yang said Saudi Arabia could receive only 2.5 million Muslims at
peak pilgrimage times, so its government limited numbers to just
one in every 1,000 Muslims in foreign countries.
The number of Chinese making the pilgrimage has been rising
steadily. This year it was 7,000. Since 1985, nearly 100,000 have
completed the pilgrimage, considered one of the five most important
tasks in Muslim life.
"Our service has also improved," Yang said. Pilgrims could leave
the country through four cities: Beijing, Lanzhou, Urumqi and
Kunming. A fifth exit port was planned in the Ningxia Hui
Autonomous Region, home of most of the Hui ethnic minority group,
China's second largest Muslim minority group.
Local branches of the IAC offered training programs for
first-time pilgrims, Yang said. "To better serve Muslims, we will
add English, international travel tips and emergency treatment to
our programs."
He also said the IAC would help pilgrims outside peak times,
starting in August and September this year.
Sources with Air China said chartered flights would carry
pilgrims direct to Mecca.
Yang estimated that more than 8,000 Chinese would make a
pilgrimage in 2007.
(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2006)