President Hu Jintao reiterated yesterday the country's policy of free religious belief while stressing the law-abiding management of religious affairs and support for the self-governance of religious groups.

Hu, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was speaking at a meeting of the members of the Political Bureau of the 17th CPC Central Committee during their second study of religious issues at home and abroad.

"We shall fully carry out the Party's policy of free religious belief and manage the relevant affairs in line with the law," he said.