Francesco Sisci is a leading Sinologist, author, and China expert currently working as a Professor at China’s Renmin University in Beijing. The interview, by Matteo Damiani, has been published on China Today and translated by prof. Gregor Benton. – On April 23, President Xi Jinping made an important speech on religion. What has changed in comparison with the past? Xi Jinping has introduced a new method, at least at the theoretical level, by which to modulate relations between party and religion.