An unequivocal message concerning China's ethnic affairs has been conveyed at a 
two-day meeting that concluded Saturday, as China, a unified multi-ethnic 
country, embarked on a new journey to fully build itself into a modern 
socialist country.

Forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation must be the focus of 
the Communist Party of China's (CPC) work on ethnic affairs in the new era, 
said President Xi Jinping while addressing the central conference on ethnic 
affairs. 

The central conference on ethnic affairs, held in Beijing on Friday and 
Saturday, was the fifth conference of its kind since China's reform and 
opening-up, following those in 1992, 1999, 2005 and 2014.

Consolidating sense of community for the Chinese nation in new era

Summarizing past experience, Xi said the CPC's work on ethnic affairs should 
serve the goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and 
efforts should be made to enhance ethnic unity and promote common prosperity 
among all ethnic groups. He also underscored the importance of safeguarding 
China's sovereignty, security and development interests, calling for efforts to 
strengthen patriotism among all ethnic groups. 

Consolidating the sense of community for the Chinese nation is necessary for 
protecting the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups, realizing national 
rejuvenation, and developing socialist ethnic relations characterized by 
equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony, he said at Saturday's meeting.

The sense of community for the Chinese nation is not a new notion. It was put 
forward by Xi at the second central work conference on Xinjiang in May 2014. He 
once again highlighted the importance of laying a solid foundation for the 
sense of community for the Chinese nation at the central conference on ethnic 
affairs held in September 2014. The idea was enshrined in the Party's 
Constitution at the 19th CPC National Congress in October 2017.

Xi called for innovation and development in CPC's work on ethnic affairs so as 
to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups. An 
important principle is to enhance commonalities while respecting and tolerating 
differences, he said on Saturday. 

All ethnic groups should prioritize the interests of the Chinese nation, and 
the sense of each ethnic group should be subordinated to and serve the sense of 
community for the Chinese nation, he stressed. In the meanwhile, the specific 
interests of each ethnic group should be well addressed in the process of 
realizing the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, he added.

Xi called for efforts to accelerate socialist modernization among all ethnic 
groups. Differentiated policies should be made to support the reform and 
opening-up in ethnic minority regions, he said. The sense of gain, happiness 
and security should be enhanced for people of all ethnic groups, he stressed. 

Exchanges and integration among ethnic groups should be encouraged, he said. 
Measures should be taken to create an environment where people of different 
ethnic groups can embed themselves spatially, economically, socially and 
psychologically, he said. 

Xi stressed the importance of preventing major risks related to ethnic affairs. 
Ideological issues that involve ethnic elements should be handled actively and 
properly, he said, adding that continuous efforts are needed to eradicate 
separatist and extremist ideas. He also called for strengthening international 
cooperation in fighting terrorism.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-08-28/Xi-stresses-high-quality-development-of-Party-s-work-on-ethnic-affairs-1364xXfhBK0/index.html


SOURCE: CGTN