A senior Chinese official has called on the country's religious believers to contribute more to harmonious religious relations and social and economic development.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks Monday at a meeting with leaders of national religious groups at the central government compound, Zhongnanhai.

Jia said 2012 is a key year as the Communist Party of China (CPC) will host its 18th national congress, and creating a favorable environment in the run-up to the event is vitally important.

Jia called on all religious groups and believers to uphold ethnic solidarity, religious harmony and social stability, and to contribute more to social and economic development.

During the meeting, Jia, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, bid greetings to religious believers for the upcoming Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 23 this year.

China is home to more than 100 million religious adherents, largely Buddhists, Taoists, Christians, Catholics and Muslims, according to official figures.