The religious festival of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Islam's holy month of Ramadan. In China, officials and diplomats from Beijing and Xinjiang marked the day with an event on protecting religious freedoms. Cao Bing has the report.

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is home to China's largest Muslim population.

As Ramadan draws to a close, it joins large parts of the world in celebrating Eid al-Fitr. In Beijing, government officials and diplomats mark the day with an event, exchanging thoughts on protecting and respecting religious beliefs.

The head of the Xinjiang Islamic Association spoke of some measures taken in the region.

ABDUREQIP TUMULNIYAZ President Islamic Association of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region "Customs and habits are fully respected. Halal food is made and processed according to regulations. There are Halal restaurants everywhere. Government offices and schools have Halal canteens. Our association has translated and published the Koran in four languages, Chinese, Uyghur, Kazakh, Kirgiz."

He also spoke of how mosques have been improved to provide a better environment for religious activities.

CAO BING Beijing "In Xinjiang, religious belief is not only about being well respected and protected. The region is also building educational facilities, like the Xinjiang Islamic Institute to help people better understand the religion."

BAI FUSHENG Vice President Islamic Association of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region "The Xinjiang Islamic Institute has one main campus and eight branches, which have secondary schools, junior colleges and undergraduate courses. These include religious courses such as Islamic pedagogy and Koranic studies."

He say some 1,000 students are enrolled in these schools while 1,000 more have graduated every year in recent years.

In China, the protection of religious belief is written into the constitution which guarantees rights of all citizens to practice their religion freely. Cao Bing, CGTN, Beijing.