BEIJING - A high-ranking official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has encouraged the religious circle and followers to play a positive role in China's modernization drive.

Calling them a "positive force" in promoting economic and social development, Yu Zhengsheng, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said efforts are needed to make religion conducive to national development and the improvement of religious adherents' material and spiritual lives.

Yu made the remarks during his visits to major national religious groups in Beijing from Monday to Wednesday.

"Among our people, it remains secondary whether they choose to believe or not to believe in religion, or which religion they chose to believe in. The common goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is primary," he said.

Yu paid visits to national associations of Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Catholicism, as well as a Tibetan Buddhism college, respectively.

When visiting the High-Level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, Yu asked the faculty to deepen research regarding the compatibility of Tibetan Buddhism and socialist society.

He also urged the religious groups to pay attention to organization building and personnel training, and to discover more positive elements in religious doctrines.

The official asked CPC committees and local government administrations to support religious groups and help them solve practical problems.