Archbishop Williams Embarks on China Trip

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams is to begin a two-week visit to China this weekend, his office announced Friday.

The visit, which starts Sunday, "is intended to provide a deeper understanding of the Christian communities in China and the varied context in which it is developing," it said.

It follows visits to China by previous spiritual leaders of the Church of England, including the late Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie visit in 1983 and William's predecessor George Carey in 1994.

The archbishop's office said that there would be opportunities in the latest visit "to engage with religious leaders, academics, local and national government officials, NGOs and business leaders."

"The Archbishop's key concerns are to engage with the church in China and its changing context, the challenges posed by development and accelerated economic activity, the environmental agenda in the region and the debate about constructing a "harmonious society" in China and the contribution of religion within this process," it said.

"I am greatly looking forward to my first direct encounter with China. I very much welcome this opportunity to come alongside the Church in China, as well as to gain a fuller appreciation of China's remarkable development in recent years and its unique cultural heritage," Williams stated.

"I am most grateful to Presbyter Ji Jianhong, the Chairperson of the National Committee of the Three Self Patriotic Movement, and to Revd Cao Shengjie, the President of the China Christian Council, for their invitation."

The archbishop will begin his tour in Shanghai on Oct. 8 before he heads further inland, covering five cities in total before the visit's end on Oct. 23.