Radio Islam News | 23 August 2016

A total of 14,500 Chinese Muslims will perform the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, this year, China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) said Saturday.

China’s Xinhua news agency reports that as of last Friday, China has sent 37 chartered flights for the Hajj with a total of 11,000 Chinese pilgrims.

A further group set off from Beijing on Saturday morning.

As they left, Zhang Yantong, vice head of SARA, claimed the Communist Party of China had always paid high attention to the Hajj.

SARA has worked with relevant authorities to make arrangements for medical services, security precautions, accommodation and transport for those making the journey.

Zhang told those making the pilgrimage to take good care of themselves and display a positive image of Chinese Muslims.

From Monday to Saturday this week, more than 2,900 pilgrims from Gansu, Tibet Autonomous Region and other parts of China will fly to Saudi Arabia via ten chartered flights departing from Lanzhou.