An international religious conference is taking place in China today. It’s said to be the first of its kind in China since the Communist came to power in 1949. Hundreds of scholars and monks from around the world are attending the World Buddhist Forum in the eastern city of Hangzhou. Daniel Griffiths reports from Beijing.

There are about 100 million Buddhists in China, but this is the first conference of its kind since the officially atheist Communist Party came to power in 1949. Beijing keeps a tight rein on all religious activities, fearing a possible challenge to its authority. Worship is only allowed through state-run organizations. Many monks and nuns have been jailed for their loyalty to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. And followers of the underground Christian Church have also received lengthy prison sentences.

国际宗教会议今天在中国召开，这是自共产党1949执政以来在首次中国举行的此类会议，来自世界各地的几百名学者和僧侣在东部城市杭州参加世界佛教论坛。Daniel Griffiths从北京报道。

中国大约有10亿人信奉佛教，但这次大会是无神论的共产党自1949年执政以来，首次在中国举行的此类会议。由于担心宗教团体挑战政府的权威，因此中国政府对宗教活动严加约束，只允许教徒在官方的宗教组织进行礼拜活动。许多僧侣和尼姑由于效忠西藏流亡精神领袖达赖喇嘛而被关押，地下基督教会的信徒们也被判处长期监禁。