WUHAN - Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu encouraged China's religious groups to take an active part in charitable efforts in a letter addressed to a religious meeting held on Thursday.

Religious people in China have long made great contributions to charity and society, Hui said in the letter.

He also expressed his well-wishes for the meeting, as well as for a weeklong function to promote charity programs created by religious groups in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province.

In February, the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) and five other departments issued a notice to encourage religious groups to engage in charitable activities.

According to the notice, the government will provide preferential policies for groups that engage in charity work.

Religious groups can use the opportunity to improve their charity programs and promote themselves, Hui said.

The government expects the groups to make greater contributions to social harmony, he added.