BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Friday extended New Year greetings to religious personages and believers nationwide.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, extended the greetings at a symposium with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.

Speaking highly of the religious groups' work in 2018, Wang urged them to implement the major decisions and plans on religious affairs of the CPC Central Committee and safeguard ethnic unity, religious harmony and social harmony.

Development of religions should be closely integrated with the nation's future and destiny, Wang said.

He called for efforts to guide religious personages and believers to conscientiously safeguard the authority of the Constitution and the law and take tough steps to resist and oppose illegal activities using religion as a tool.

Wang stressed that the CPC Central Committee will, as usual, attach great importance to the unity and cooperation with religious personages and care for and support the work of religious groups.