The main responsibilities, internal structure, and staffing of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs are governed by specific stipulations. These provisions are outlined in the Notice of the General Office of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government on the “Three Determinations” of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs (HWBF [2019] No. 40). In accordance with these provisions, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs was established as a department under the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

Main responsibilities are as follows:

1. Ensure the implementation of laws, regulations, rules, guidelines, and policies related to ethnic and religious affairs. Conduct research and develop local regulations, rules, and policies on ethnic and religious affairs based on the actual situation in the Municipality. Organize the implementation of relevant regulations, rules, and policies.

2. Safeguard the rights of various minority nationalities in accordance with the law and coordinate interethnic relations. Participate in the formulation of development plans related to education, culture, health, sports, and other ethnic undertakings. Facilitate activities aimed at fostering unity and progress among different nationalities. Contribute to the administration of the floating population belonging to minority nationalities in Shanghai.

3. Take part in the cultivation, selection, and appointment of officials from minority nationalities. Maintain contact with representatives of minority nationalities and provide guidance for the work of ethnic mass organizations.

4. Collaborate in providing support and promoting economic and technical cooperation between the Municipality and regions inhabited by minority nationalities. Work with relevant departments to ensure the production and supply of specialized commodities needed by minority nationalities. Guide, coordinate, supervise, and inspect activities related to the food requirements of the Muslim community.

5. Protect the freedom of religious belief for citizens, ensuring the legitimate rights of religious groups and places of religious activities, as well as the regular religious practices of religious office holders and believers, in accordance with the law. Administer the religious activities of foreigners in Shanghai in compliance with relevant regulations.

6. Support religious groups in promoting the spread of their teachings, self-governance, and self-sustainability within the boundaries set by the Constitution and laws. Encourage religious groups to follow their independent and self-reliant paths and independently manage their respective places of worship based on the unique characteristics of each religion.

7. Encourage ethnic and religious figures to engage in self-education focused on patriotism, socialism, and support for the reunification of our motherland, as well as the unity of all ethnic nationalities. Strengthen and develop socialist interethnic relations, fostering unity among the broad masses from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, and proactively uphold social stability and unity.

8. Conduct research and analysis on ethnic and religious affairs and religious theories both domestically and internationally. Guide religious groups in cultivating friendly exchanges with foreign countries, as well as the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions.

9. Collaborate with relevant departments to counteract infiltration activities by hostile influences from abroad. Expose and crack down on sabotage and criminal activities disguised under ethnic and religious disguises. Participate in comprehensive governance efforts targeting feudalistic and superstitious activities. Prevent and intervene in situations where individuals exploit religions for illegal actions.

10. Support religious groups in nurturing and educating religious office holders. Provide guidance for religious schools and institutions to strengthen their self-development. Undertake responsibilities related to the National Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China, China Christian Council, National Council of YMCAs of China, and National Council of YWCAs of China. Assume relevant roles as the competent administrative unit of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Shanghai and the Young Women’s Christian Association of Shanghai.

11. Organize and guide the dissemination and education of relevant ethnic and religious policies and laws. Review and verify films, television works, books, periodicals, publications, and advertisements related to ethnic and religious matters.

12. Provide guidance for ethnic and religious affairs in all districts and counties. Direct districts and counties in handling ethnic and religious emergencies and issues that impact social stability.

13. Manage the acceptance and processing of relevant administrative reviews and responses to administrative proceedings.

14. Fulfill any additional tasks assigned by the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.