Premier Wen Jiabao?has called for efforts to carry forward and develop the culture and art of the country's ethnic minorities.

Wen made the remarks when meeting Dao Meilan, a dancer of Dai nationality at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in downtown Beijing on Saturday.

The ethnic minorities' culture and art are important parts of the Chinese nation's, Wen said. After the founding of new China, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government has given top priority on the protection, inheritance and development of the ethnic minorities' culture and art, said the premier.

Wen also urged central and local relevant authorities to guide and help carry forward and develop the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities.

Art is also a channel to promote friendship and cooperation among different countries, according to Wen.

China has 56 ethnic groups and the Dai people mostly live in southwestern Yunnan Province.

(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2009)