Q: In any country, ethnic relations can be a sensitive
issue. Any carelessness in dealing with the issue may lead to
ethnic conflicts. In China, apart from the Han, there are 55 ethnic
minorities. What has China done to ensure a harmonious relationship
among all its ethnic groups?
A: China's long history and rich culture should be attributed to
its numerous ethnic groups. In China, the Han has the largest
population, while the other 55 ethnic groups, with smaller
populations, are customarily called "ethnic minorities"
In dealing with ethnic relations, different multiethnic
countries adopt different models. China has adopted a system of
regional ethnic autonomy, which means that under the unified
leadership of the state, regional autonomy is practiced in areas
where people of ethnic minorities live in compact communities. In
these areas, organs of self-government are established for the
exercise of autonomy.
China has a vast territory, with all of its ethnic groups
differing from each other in terms of history, economy, cultural
traditions and customs. The regional ethnic autonomy system takes
all of these factors into full account, as reflected in the
establishment of ethnic autonomous areas and the governance of
these areas. There is much autonomy in the economic development of
these areas, and the leadership and assistance provided by the
state are intended to promote their economic growth and social
progress. According to government statistics, since China began to
implement a proactive fiscal policy, the state has arranged 110.2
billion yuan (US$13.33 billion) in treasury bonds to invest in
projects in the five autonomous regions of Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner
Mongolia, Guangxi and Ningxia, accounting for one-eighth of the
total investment of treasury bonds. The investment has been used
for infrastructure development and construction such as
agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, water conservancy, railway
and roads, as well as such infrastructure construction as the
"grain for grass" project, urban water supply, sewage and garbage
disposal, water supply for both people and animals, and rural power
grid upgrading. All this has helped improve the living conditions
of both urban and rural residents in these ethnic minority regions,
while laying a solid foundation for their economic and social
development.
Given the fact that there are 22 ethnic minority groups, each
with a population of less than 100,000 people that remain backward
in terms of economic and social development due to historical and
natural factors, the government has formulated a 2005-10 plan for
assisting the development of ethnic minorities with small
populations. According to the plan, the state will increase
financial input and encourage developed coastal areas, large and
medium-sized cities and large enterprises to offer assistance to
the designated ethnic areas. Through these efforts, the economic
and social development of these minority-inhabited areas is
expected to reach at least the middle level in their respective
regions within the next five years, so that they catch up with
others on the road toward common prosperity.
China has so far established 155 ethnic autonomous areas -- five
autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous
counties (banners) -- with their combined area accounting for about
64 percent of the country's total territory. The development and
improvement of the regional ethnic autonomy system has played a
vital role in ensuring the equal rights of all ethnic groups,
promoting common development and prosperity and safeguarding ethnic
solidarity and the national unification.
Practice has proven that China's regional ethnic autonomy system
and its implementation have achieved great success. To solve
China's ethnic issues through regional ethnic autonomy, fostering a
harmonious relationship among all ethnic groups, is the correct
choice and suits China's national conditions while benefiting all
Chinese people.