Chief sends a message of peace ahead of Ramadan

The top official in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region wished the area's Muslims a happy Ramadan, the holy month that started on Monday, during a visit to an Islamic center over the weekend.

"Ramadan is about peace and self-reflection, as well as dedication and self-discipline. It also makes people advocate good deeds and lend a helping hand to those less fortunate," said Zhang Chunxian, the region's top official.

He made the comments on Sunday while meeting with teachers and students at the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, the only one of its kind in China that teaches in the Uygur language. Xinjiang is home to about 51 percent of China's Muslim population.