Beijing (AsiaNews) - "Nourishing" faith in the Chinese Communist Party and rejecting "misconceptions and ideologies": this is the program that Chinese president Xi Jinping proposed to a group of teachers gathered yesterday in the capital for a seminar on "ideological theory" and politics ".
According to Xinhua, Xi gave an "important speech". In it, the party leader, who is also general secretary and head of the military commission, said that starting with toddlers China must “nurture generation after generation [of young people] who support Chinese Communist Party rule and China’s socialist system”.
“Most importantly," he added "we must emphasise [taking the correct stance] on politics such that people who have faith [in the party] can preach what they believe in.”
He also asked all educators to instill patriotism in young people and reject "misconceptions and ideologies".
Since Xi took power in 2012, the Party has launched a battle against the spread of "Western values" in schools and universities, banning books that promote "Western ideas" such as democracy and the rule of law.
At the same time, those who spread "religious" ideas among students are prosecuted. In the name of "patriotism" students are required to reject religions, especially those that come "from the West", that is Christianity, making students swear to fight them
The new regulations on religious activities prohibit young people under 18 from going to church or receiving a religious education.
