China issues white paper on ethnic policy

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-27 15:36

Ethnic minorities took part in state affairs at the equal footing with Han people. Of the 161 members of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the country's top legislature, 25 were from ethnic minorities, accounting for 15.53 percent of the total.

Their religious belief was widely respected and protected by law. In Xinjiang, there are over 24,300 mosques and 28,000 Moslem clergymen. In Tibet, there are over 1,700 venues for Tibetan-Buddhist activities, with 46,000 monks and nuns living in temples, according to the paper.

China's ethnic policy was centered on ethnic unity. Great efforts were made in the past six decades to maintain the unity among all ethnic groups and eliminate all factors adverse to it, the paper said.

China stepped up the publicity and education in ethnic unity, especially among young people. This year, it included ethnic unity education into entry exams of high schools and colleges.

"Quickening the economic and social development of minority communities and minority areas is the fundamental solution to China's ethnic issues," it said.

The impoverished population in the minority areas shrank from some 40 million in 1985 to 7.7 million in 2008, according to the paper.

In ethnic minority areas, medical institutions increased from 1,176 in 1952 to 15,463 in 2006 while the number of medical workers from 17,877 to 485,766.

The paper said both the central and local governments at all levels have gradually extended fiscal transfer payments to the minority areas.

From 1959, when democratic reform began in Tibet, to 2008, the central budget gave 201.9 billion yuan of fiscal assistance to Tibet, with an annual increase of nearly 12 percent.

In Xinjiang, from 1955 when the autonomous region was established, to 2008, the assistance from the central budget to Xinjiang totaled 375.2 billion yuan, with an annual increase of 11 percent. The 2008 figure was 68.56 billion yuan.

Ethnic minorities also saw improving education service and protection on their traditional culture.

Now there are 20,906 primary schools and 3,536 secondary schools specially for ethnic minorities. Other schools are also open to them. By 2008, the number of minority students amounted to about 22 million.

There are 366 key cultural relics and historical sites under state protection in ethnic minority areas, including five in the world heritage list.

The country held that ethnic issues are its internal affairs, the paper said.

"The Chinese government resolutely opposes all foreign interference in the country's internal ethnic affairs under the excuses of ethnicity, religion and human rights," it said.

The country is determined, in accordance with the law, to guard against and crack down on any infiltration into China, sabotage and subversive activities against China conducted by forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, it said.

The 58-page document is divided into seven sections: A Unified Multi-Ethnic Country and a Nation with Diverse Cultures; Full Equality among Ethnic Groups; Consolidating and Developing the Great Unity of All Ethnic Groups; Upholding and Improving Regional Ethnic Autonomy; Accelerating the Economic and Social Development of the Ethnic Minorities and Minority Areas; Protection and Development of Cultures of the Ethnic Minorities; Striving to Foster Cadres and Talented People of the Ethnic Minorities.

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