About 24 million Muslims distributed across 10 ethnic groups in China
Amman2 min read
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The number of Muslims in China is about 24 million, distributed across 10 ethnic groups, out of a total population of about 1.4 billion, according to Chinese researcher Zhang Hong from the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
During a dialogue seminar with a number of media representatives from several Arab countries, including Jordan, on the sidelines of a training course held in Beijing, the researcher added that freedom of religious belief is guaranteed in China, where there are Christians alongside Muslims, explaining that China is based on the separation of religion from state authority and education, and opposes ethnic separatism and extremism.
The Chinese researcher pointed out that China comprises 56 ethnic groups and has 14 neighboring countries.
The researcher, who spoke in the Arabic language he teaches, touched upon the history of China and its relations with Arab countries, noting the importance of communication between civilizations and citing maps of the ancient Silk Road that connected China to several countries around the world, including Arab countries.
He also reviewed the governance mechanism in China, comparing some of its stages to Arab models.
The researcher presented in detail the latest Chinese technological developments, which have extended to space and included several sectors, whether for civilian or military use, noting the employment of technology in facilitating daily transactions, as Chinese digital applications, such as "Alipay" and "WeChat," allow for the purchase of goods and electronic payment.
It is noteworthy that the Education and Training Center of the China International Communications Group held a training course for media officials and journalists from Arab countries on Thursday.
The course, which began on October 22 and continues until November 4, is being held in the Chinese capital, Beijing, and includes a visit to Gansu Province, with the participation of journalists from several Arab countries, including Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, and Mauritania.
