Moslems pray to celebrate the festival of Id al-Adha at the Etigar Mosque in Kashgar, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, December 20, 2007. [photo: Xinhua]

Moslems pray to celebrate the festival of Id al-Adha at the Dongguan Mosque in Xining, Northwest China's Qinghai Province, December 20, 2007. [photo: Xinhua]

Moslems pray to celebrate the festival of Id al-Adha at the Niujie Mosque in Beijing, December 20, 2007. Nearly 3,000 Moslems from different ethnic groups participated in the celebrations at the biggest and oldest mosque in the Chinese capital. [photo: Xinhua]

Moslems buy traditional snacks to celebrate Id al-Adha, December 20, 2007. [photo: CCTV]

A performance is given in Beijing to celebrate Id al-Adha, December 20, 2007. [photo: CCTV]

China Islamic Association held a reception on Thursday in Beijing to celebrate one of the most important Islamic festivals Id al-Adha.

Chen Guangyuan, president of China Islamic Association, expressed greetings to all Chinese Moslems and foreign Moslems working in China, saying Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent remark on religious work has encouraged all Chinese Moslems to better build the country.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and other senior officials attended the reception.

Id al-Adha is one of the three major festivals in the Islamic world in which Moslems usually slaughter livestock on December 10 in the Islamic calendar to thank Islamic God Allah.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2007)