On August 23, 2006, the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan KYRILL of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, had a meeting in Moscow with the delegation of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China headed by the deputy chairman of the Department acting also as deputy of the Chinese Association of Friendship with foreign countries Mr. Chen Xiqing. The meeting was held on a request by the Chinese side.
In the course of the conversation both sides discussed the present state and the development of Church - state relations as well as the interreligious dialogue in China and Russia. A special attention was given to the role of traditional religions in forming and retaining the civic society. The unique experience of Russia in that sphere and the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in most recent history were highly esteemed by the Chinese representatives. Also, a mutual desire was expressed for a wider development of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the interreligious organizations in Russia with the Chinese religious circles, political and scientific centers and public organizations.
As a token of remembrance of the meeting held, both sides exchanged gifts that most vividly represented the traditional culture of their respective countries. In the meeting the Vice-Chairman of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop MARK of Egorevsk, together with other coworkers from the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, also took part.