The Islamic Association of China (IAC) will set up a special office to assist Chinese Muslims making pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The measure was written into the amendment of the IAC Constitution passed by the eighth session of the Chinese Islamic Congress concluding here Thursday.

"This is the first time China has set up a special pilgrimage service for the country's 20 million Muslims," IAC vice-chairman Yang Zhibo told Xinhua Friday.

Chinese law on religious affairs makes the IAC responsible for organizing pilgrimages for Muslims.

Yang said Saudi Arabia could receive only than 2.5 million Muslims at peak pilgrimage times, so its government limited numbers to just one in every 1,000 Muslims in foreign countries.

The number of Chinese making the pilgrimage has been rising steadily. This year it was 7,000. Since 1985, nearly 100,000 have completed the pilgrimage, considered one of the five most important tasks in Muslim life.

"Our service has also improved," Yang said. Pilgrims could leave the country through four cities: Beijing, Lanzhou, Urumqi and Kunming. A fifth exit port was planned in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, home of most of the Hui ethnic minority group, China's second largest Muslim minority group.

Local branches of the IAC offered training programs for first-time pilgrims, Yang said. "To better serve Muslims, we will add English, international travel tips and emergency treatment to our programs."

He also said the IAC would help pilgrims outside peak times, starting in August and September this year.

Sources with Air China said chartered flights would carry pilgrims direct to Mecca.

Yang estimated that more than 8,000 Chinese would make a pilgrimage in 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2006)