Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu (4th R), Ismail Tiliwaldi (2nd R), vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China`s National People`s Congress, Du Qinglin (5th R), head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Abdul`ahat Abdulrixit (1st R), vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People`s Political Consultative Conference, attend a reception held by the Islamic Association of China (IAC) to celebrate Corban Festival, or Eid al-Adha, in Beijing, China, on Nov. 6, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Sunday evening attended a reception in Beijing and joined Islamic religious personages and representatives of Chinese Muslims in celebrating the annual Corban Festival.
The reception was held by the Islamic Association of China (IAC) on the eve of this year`s Corban Festival, which falls on Monday.
Corban Festival, also known as Id al-Gurban, is a major Islamic festival showing faith and obedience to Allah. People slay livestock and divide it into three parts. One part is for the family, one for relatives and friends and the rest goes to charity.
Also present at the reception were diplomats from Islamic countries to China as well as senior Chinese officials including Ismail Tiliwaldi, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People`s Congress, and vice chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People`s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Du Qinglin and Abdul`ahat Abdulrixit.
Chen Guangyuan, the IAC president delivered a speech at the reception, extending congratulations to Muslims in China and around the world and giving his good wishes to the Chinese Muslims who are now in Saudi Arabia for their annual pilgrimage.
The IAC will continue the work to serve the Chinese Muslims and unite them to do good deeds and make contributions to the country`s development and social harmony, Chen said.
Chen also prayed for the Muslims passed away in the recent earthquake in Turkey.
China has more than 20 million Muslims. They mainly live in the western provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regions and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
