The final days of the German President Joachim Gauck in China was full of religious events, where the president had aimed to strengthen German ties with China while addressing human rights.
Following a visit to the famous Teracotta Army excavations on Tuesday, Gauck met the Catholic Bishop of Xi'an, Anthony Dang at the Francis of Assisi Cathedral at imperial city.
Like other bishops of China, Dang was ordained by China's official "Patriotic Church" and is also recognized as a bishop by the Vatican.
During his visit, representatives accompanied Gauck from both the Catholic and Protestant Church in Germany, according to DW.
On Wednesday evening, former Lutheran Pastor attended an evangelic Easter service and a visit to the Great Mosque of Xi'an was scheduled for Thursday.
The German President on Wednesday hit out at Communist rule in Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, telling students that people could not be happy under a "dictatorship."
Notably, religious freedoms are strictly curtailed in China while the Communist leaders work towards keeping faith communities under control and preventing foreign influences.
Christianity in China has continued to attract a strong following and has been the cause of many controversies.
Gauck also expressed concern about development within Chinese civil society, without giving specific examples.
"Vibrant and active civil society always means an innovative and flexible society," he said.
Prior to his trip, the 76-year-old was urged domestically to pressure Beijing over human rights and freedom of speech. He told reporters that, during his visit, he also raised the situation of former DW journalist Gao Yu. The 71-year-old was convicted of leaking state secrets in 2015 and later freed. She has been prevented from traveling to Germany, however, where she is seeking medical treatment.
Gauck was due to return to Berlin later on Thursday.
