He replaces Cui Maohu, who was recently removed after being placed under investigation for alleged corruption. Chen has also served as deputy director of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party. Born in Shandong, he has government experience in Wuhan and Qinghai province.
Beijing (AsiaNews) – Chen Ruifeng is the new head of the National Religious Affairs Administration (NRAA), the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) reported today on its website.
Chen replaces Cui Maohu, who was recently placed under investigation for alleged disciplinary and legal violations, terms that usually refer to corruption.
Born in Shandong province, the 56-year-old Chen joined the CPC in 1989. He became deputy secretary of Wuhan, Hubei in 2016, and deputy mayor the following year.
In July 2020, he was promoted to the Standing Committee of the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee, and has served as deputy director of the UFWD of the CPC Central Committee,
The NRAA was previously known as the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), and before that, the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB).
It was a separate body under the State Council (China’s central government), but in March 2018, it came under direct CPC control, serving essentially as the executive arm of the UFWD in charge of religious activities.