Turkish, Chinese religious officials hail friendship between Muslims of two countries

ISTANBUL, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Both Turkish and Chinese religious officials on Thursday lauded the friendship between the Muslims of the two countries.

"When a bridge of love gets established between the Muslims of China and of Turkey, this peace and brotherhood between the two countries could become a model to the whole world," Prof. Mehmet Gormez, chairman of the Turkish Department of Religious Affairs, said when delivering a speech at the closing ceremony of the eight- day Chinese Islamic cultural pageant held in Istanbul.

The closing ceremony was attended by over 500 Chinese and Turkish government officials and Muslim representatives from the two sides.

Also addressing the ceremony, Chairperson of the Chinese Islamic Society, Hilalunddin Chen Guangyuan, said the event had best displayed its main theme as "peace, friendship, and co- existence."

"Everyone is aware of how Islam attaches importance to tolerance for different cultures and co-existence," Chen said.

During the event, over 100 people from China introduced to Turkey China's Islamic history and unique Muslim culture in the form of performances. The two sides also held a symposium on China- Turkey Islamic exchanges.

The event, part of the "Year of China in Turkey" activities, was held under the co-sponsorship of the Turkish Department of Religious Affairs and the Chinese Department of Religious Affairs Administration.

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