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All Ethnic Groups as One Family

2021-04-26 11:18:00 Source:China Today Author:staff reporter HOU RUILI
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China is a united multi-ethnic country boasting a long history. All ethnic groups have jointly contributed to the development of their motherland. For thousands of years, various ethnic groups living on the Chinese land have formed an interdependent pattern of unity in diversity. During this long historical process, different ethnic groups of China have settled among each other, with compact communities here and there. 

All ethnic groups have jointly created the splendid Chinese culture. There are not only a large number of works reflecting the creative endeavors and diverse life of various ethnic groups, but also the creations of various ethnic authors. Among the Chinese items included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, ethnic minorities’ contributions account for one third.

It is precisely because of the long-term unity through history, the political basis of the united struggle and common liberation of the people of various ethnic groups in modern times, as well as their respective development momentums and resource distributions of various ethnic groups that China has adopted the regional ethnic autonomy system to ensure equality, unity, and common prosperity of all ethnic groups. For this purpose, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has solemnly promised that no single ethnic group would be left behind in the process to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and then further achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China’s President Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to encourage all ethnic groups to embrace each other, advance the whole Chinese nation towards a community with a shared future that is more inclusive and cohesive, and build a beautiful homeland and a brighter future.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, after eight years of unremitting efforts, 420 state-level poverty-stricken counties in China’s ethnic autonomous areas have all been lifted out of poverty with 31.21 million registered poor people all having overcome poverty.

Before Tibet’s peaceful liberation in 1951, there was no opportunity for ordinary Tibetans to earn a stable livelihood. Officials, nobles, monasteries, and senior monks held ownership of up to 99.7 percent of the land. Millions of serfs had no personal freedom, were subjected to cruel rule and oppression, and went through life without sufficient clothing and food. Over the past 70 years, Tibetan people’s livelihood has been significantly improved. A relatively complete modern education system covering preschool education, basic education, vocational education, higher education, adult education, and special education has been formed. The average duration in education for people of all ethnic groups in Tibet has reached 9.55 years. Tibet has established a basic social security system which provides medical coverage for all farmers and herders, a grassroots medical and health care system, a disease prevention and control system, and a maternal and child health care system, as well as a social relief system mainly undertaken by the government. The average life expectancy of the entire autonomous region has increased from 35.5 years at the beginning of the democratic reform, which was introduced in 1959, to 71.1 years today. Traditional Tibetan culture and various cultural heritage have also been well protected and developed.

Tibet’s economic growth in 2020 was 7.8 percent, and the region’s GDP exceeded RMB 190 billion. Scientific and technological progress contributed 45.6 percent to its economic growth. The per capita disposable income of rural Tibetan residents has maintained double-digit growth for 18 consecutive years.

Tibet’s development will enter a stage of quality improvement. Along the direction of sustainable development, the region will readjust its industrial structure, use tourism and other characteristic industries as channels to increase income, speed up talent cultivation and technical skills training, and improve self-development capabilities.

A delegation comprising Vladimir Norov, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and more than 30 diplomats from some 21 countries visited Xinjiang from March 30 to April 2. In Kashgar, members of the delegation noticed that a trainee who graduated from a vocational training school was able to earn a monthly income of about RMB 5,000 with legal knowledge and employment skills gained from the school. Local mosques were clean and spacious, equipped with facilities such as prayer rooms, restaurants, and air-conditioning with religious believers engaged in prayer. The Central Primary School of Awati Township in Kashgar is a boarding school where school-age children from 11 villages in the vicinity of the school study. The delegation noticed that the conditions of the classrooms and dormitories were very good, and learned that students can choose whether or not they live on campus. In a cotton textile factory in Aksu, the modern production lines, clean and tidy staff dormitories, and nutritious staff meals allowed the delegation members to see the real situation of Xinjiang’s cotton industry. They also learned that the company provides employees with good pension and medical protection, and employees are highly motivated to work.

The improvement of people’s livelihood has greatly increased the sense of gain and happiness of people of all ethnic groups in China. A happy, harmonious atmosphere enhanced by stable social and economic development permeates throughout all of China.

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