The Chinese government is training hundreds of thousands of
officials and professionals from minority people, in an effort to
accelerate development in minority-dominated areas, according to
sources with China's Ethnic Affairs Commission (SEAC).
China has 56 ethnic groups with a total population of 1.3
billion, with the Han group accounting for 91.59 percent. The
remaining 55 ethnic groups are ethnic minorities, mostly living in
remote, economically backward areas.
The government plans to train 4,000 to 5,000 people from
minority groups between 2000 and 2009. These people will be
assigned to work in minority areas after being trained in different
professional skills.
About 650,000 people from minority groups work as civil servants
in governments at various levels, while government institutions
employ 1.6 million minority people as professional staff, and
state-owned companies employ 600,000 as managerial personnel.
Over the past few years, the SEAC has undertaken a massive
training program for minority officials and professionals. The six
existing minority universities have set up training centers for
minority officials and professionals. Since 2000, over 2,500
minority people have been trained in these universities and
centers.
From 2000 to 2002, the central and local government in developed
areas employed 1,645 minority people officials, many as
trainees.
Meanwhile, over 200 minority officials were trained in the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region and European nations.
(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2003)