Leaders from China's Christian community on Sunday described talks with visiting German President Johannes Rau, as "pleasant."

"We welcome such exchange of views on a friendly and equal basis," Cao Shengjie, president of the China Christian Council said after the 40-minute talks.

"I had thought President Rau would raise sharp questions as many westerners would, but in fact, he was very friendly and displayed a good understanding of China's religious situation and a profound religious knowledge," said Hua Yaozeng, chairman of the Shanghai Christian Council.

It was the first time China's top Christian leaders exchanged views with a foreign head of state. During the meeting, the development of China's Christianity, religious freedom, baptism and other related issues aroused great interest from the German president.

Mei Kangjun, deputy secretary-general of the National Committee of Protestant Churches in China, said the atmosphere of friendliness and mutual respect helps foreigners understand China's religious situation and is conducive to the understanding and communication between Chinese and German Christians.

Cao said there are 16 million Christians on the Chinese mainland, more than 20 times the number in 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, 18 religious academies and over 20,000 Christian teachers. In Shanghai, over two thirds of the churches were set up in the past two decades after China adopted the reform and opening-up policy. The China Christian Council has its own website and magazine.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2003)