Editor’s note: In this column we present to you the phrases used every day in the media and by the Chinese government, so providing a succinct overview of China’s political thinking, its policies and ongoing reforms and transitions.

民族区域自治制度

中国是一个统一的多民族国家，迄今为止，通过识别并由中央政府确认的民族有56个。其中，汉族人口最多，其他55个民族人口较少，习惯上被称为少数民族。世界上的多民族国家在处理民族问题方面有不同的制度模式，中国采用的是民族区域自治。民族区域自治是在国家统一领导下，各少数民族聚居的地方设立自治机关，行使自治权，实行区域自治。民族区域自治制度是中国的一项基本政治制度。

1984年5月1日，中国颁布了《民族区域自治法》，把党和国家的民族区域自治政策法律化。2001年2月28日，又根据社会主义市场经济条件下出现的新情况，对这一法律进行修改，进一步确立了民族区域自治是中国一项基本政治制度的法律地位。目前，依据宪法和法律，中国共建立了155个民族自治地方，包括5个自治区，30个自治州，120个自治县(旗)。此外，还建立了1100多个民族乡。根据宪法和民族区域自治法的规定，民族自治地方拥有广泛的自治权。

Regional Ethnic Autonomy

China is a multi-ethnic country, a union of 56 ethnic groups that have been recognized and endorsed by the central government. Of them, the Han ethnic group has the largest population. In contrast to the various different approaches to ethnic issues in other countries with a multi-ethnic makeup, China’s approach focuses on regional ethnic autonomy. Under the leadership of the central government, self-governance is exercised in regions with large ethnic minority populations. Local affairs are administered by autonomous local governing bodies. Regional ethnic autonomy is a fundamental component of China’s political system.

The policies of the CPC and the central government on regional ethnic autonomy were codified into law and promulgated on May 1, 1984 as the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy. The law was revised on February 28, 2001 in response to new developments associated with China’s socialist market economy. The revised law further affirms regional ethnic autonomy as a fundamental component of China’s political system. There are currently 155 ethnic autonomous areas in China, so designated in accordance with the Constitution and laws. They include five autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, and 120 autonomous counties. There are also more than 1,100 autonomous townships. These areas enjoy extensive autonomy, as prescribed in the Constitution and the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy.

打好扶贫攻坚战

改革开放30多年来，中国经济社会发展取得很大成就，人民生活水平总体上发生很大变化，几亿贫困人口脱贫，完成这期间全世界超过70%的减贫任务。但由于中国还处在社会主义初级阶段，由于国家大，各地发展条件不同，中国还有为数不少的困难群众，扶贫开发依然任重道远。按照农民年人均纯收入2300元的扶贫标准，到2015年底，中国农村贫困人口还有5575万人。可见，中国的扶贫工作已经进入“啃硬骨头”阶段。这种背景下，从2014年开始，中国将每年10月17日设立为“扶贫日”。中国将加大投入力度，动员社会各方面力量共同向贫困宣战，深入推进扶贫开发，继续打好扶贫攻坚战，帮助困难群众早日脱贫致富，稳定实现扶贫对象不愁吃、不愁穿，保障其义务教育、基本医疗、住房，努力推动贫困地区经济社会加快发展。

Poverty Alleviation

Considerable economic and social progress in China since the reform and opening-up policy came into effect in the late 1970s has significantly improved standards of living as a whole. Since then, several hundred million people have been lifted out of poverty, representing more than 70 percent of poverty reduction worldwide over that period. Much, however, remains to be done to eliminate remaining but substantial pockets of poverty, bearing in mind that China, with its immense population, is still at the primary stage of socialism, and its diverse regions show varying levels of development.

At the end of 2015, 55.75 million of China’s rural residents still lived below the national poverty line, or subsisted on an annual per capita net income of less than RMB 2,300. China’s poverty alleviation initiatives thus faced daunting challenges.

Against such a backdrop, China launched in 2014 its first National Poverty Alleviation Day, designated as October 17 each year. China will allocate more resources to poverty relief and mobilize all sectors of society to join the fight against poverty. Development aimed specifically at reducing poverty will be stepped up. Effective measures aimed at steadily improving access to adequate food and daily necessities, compulsory education, basic medical services, and housing will also be implemented.

绿色发展

作为“五大发展理念”之一，绿色发展注重的是解决人与自然和谐相处的问题。“十三五”期间，中国将遵循绿色发展理念，在促进人与自然和谐共生，加快建设主体功能区，推动低碳循环发展，全面节约和高效利用资源，加大环境治理力度，筑牢生态安全屏障等六个方面下功夫，推动建立绿色低碳循环发展产业体系，致力于把生态文明建设融入经济、政治、文化、社会建设的各方面和全过程，以期让中华大地青山常在，绿水长流，蓝天永驻。

Green Development

A main development concept, green development highlights the importance of harmony between man and nature. The 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), accentuates the eco-friendly approach to development in efforts to promote the harmonious existence of man and nature. Construction of functional regions in which to promote low-carbon and circular development, conservation, efficient resource utilization, and environmental protection that safeguards China’s ecological security will be accelerated. Building an economic structure conducive to green, low-carbon and circular development, and maintaining an eco-conservation perspective on every facet of economic, political, cultural, and social development are now imperative. Our goal is to ensure that the land we inherit remains blessed with green mountains, clear waters, and fresh air.

Selected from Keywords to Understanding China published by China Academy of Translation and China International Publishing Group.