14,500 Chinese make Hajj pilgrimage

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 14,500 Chinese Muslims will perform the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, this year, China's State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) said Saturday.

As of Friday, China has sent 37 charter flights to carry Chinese Muslims to the Middle East for the Hajj, and a total of 11,000 Chinese pilgrims have arrived in Mecca, the authority said.

A further group set off from Beijing on Saturday morning.

As they left, Zhang Yantong, vice head of SARA, said the Communist Party of China had always paid high attention to the Hajj.

SARA has worked with relevant authorities to make arrangements for medical services, security precautions, accommodation and transport for those making the journey.

Zhang told people making the pilgrimage to take good care of themselves and display a positive image of Chinese Muslims.