The spiritual head of the 77million-member worldwide Anglican Communion, Dr Rowan Williams has begun his first journey to China by delivering a sermon to an invitation-only congregation of 300 people in Shanghai.
At the Moore Memorial Church, the Archbishop told worshippers that "peace was only possible through the power and harmony of God".
The visit, which commenced on Sunday, has been formed with the intention "to provide a deeper understanding of the Christian communities in China and the varied context in which it is developing," the Archbishop's office announced last week.
The spiritual journey follows visits to China by previous leaders of the Church of England, including the late Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie's visit in 1983 and Dr William's predecessor George Carey in 1994.
