Shi Yongxin, the abbot of China's famous Shaolin Temple, reiterated?Friday on the sidelines of a national congress in Beijing that his temple will not be listed in the stock market.

Shi, who holds an MBA degree and speaks fluent English, said the temple will neither become a shareholder nor join in the business operations of a newly established tourism company in Dengfeng City, Henan province, where the temple is located

On December 27, a joint-venture tourism firm was established by the Dengfeng city government and China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Ltd., a subsidiary of the state-owned China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corporation.

At a press conference in December, shortly after the venture's launch, Shi said the legal rights and interests of the Shaolin Temple have been well-protected under Chinese laws concerning religious affairs, and will not be affected by the new company.