Ethnic Minorities
There are 55 ethnic minorities in China. To guarantee the legitimate
rights of ethnic minorities, China's Constitution and laws stipulate that
all ethnic groups are equal. There are clear stipulations that help is to
be extended to ethnic minorities and national autonomous areas for the
development of their economy, culture and other undertakings and that the
customs and habits of ethnic minorities are to be respected in social
life. This is the fundamental reason that all ethnic groups in China have
for a long time united closely, lived in harmony and helped one another.
The ethnic minorities' right to be represented in the highest organ of
state power as well as in local organs of power at various levels has
been continuously and specially guaranteed. Deputies to the Eighth
National People's Congress include 439, or 14.7 percent, of ethnic
minorities. This percentage is much higher than the percentage (8.04) of
population of ethnic minorities in the country's total population. The
state pays much attention to training and selecting cadres of ethnic
minorities to work in governments at various levels. About 10.5 percent
of all cadres at provincial or ministerial level are from ethnic
minorities and 7.9 percent of cadres at prefectural or bureau level are
from ethnic minorities.
China has instituted a system of regional autonomy in minority areas. In
order to implement the Law on Regional National Autonomy, since 1991
China has formulated more than 20 regulations on regional national
autonomy and some special regulations. This has further guaranteed
autonomy in the national autonomous areas. In China the chairman of an
autonomous region and the head of an autonomous prefecture or autonomous
county are invariably citizens of the ethnic group that exercises
regional autonomy. Other members of the people's government of an
autonomous region, autonomous prefecture or autonomous county are also to
be made up, as far as conditions permit, by citizens of the ethnic group
that exercises regional autonomy or citizens of other ethnic minorities
in that area. The law stipulates that autonomous organs can apply for
permission from higher state organs to make alterations in or desist from
implementing resolutions, decisions, orders and instructions made by
higher-level state organs if they are not in accordance with the
situation in autonomous areas. The autonomous organs in national
autonomous areas guarantee that citizens of all the local ethnic groups
have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written
languages and to maintain or reform their customs and habits, and,
according to law, guarantee that citizens of all ethnic groups enjoy
freedom in religious belief.
In recent years the state has continued to pay more attention to
guaranteeing the rights and interests of ethnic minorities living in
scattered communities. In November 1993, with the State Council's
approval, the State Nationalities Affairs Commission promulgated
Regulations on Administrative Work of Nationality Townships and
Regulations on Urban Nationality Work. They give detailed provisions on
how to guarantee the political, economic and cultural rights and
interests of scattered ethnic minorities.
The state has always implemented a preferential policy for the economic
development of areas where people of ethnic minorities live in compact
communities, providing funds, technology and personnel aid. In December
1991 the State Council issued a document requesting governments at all
levels to increase input to the autonomous areas and to speed up the aid
scheme whereby economically developed areas give aid to ethnic minority
areas. It required banks at all levels to give appropriate preferential
treatment to autonomous areas in terms of loans for projects of
investment in fixed assets. More funds and materials allocated for
assisting poor areas should be directed to poor ethnic minority areas.
Aid provided by the state and developed areas to national autonomous
areas has promoted their economic development. The total output value of
industry and agriculture of autonomous areas in 1994 increased 73.8
percent over that of 1990, the agricultural output value increasing 28.1
percent, the industrial output value increasing 109.1 percent and railway
lines open to traffic increasing 27.5 percent. The life of ethnic
minorities has improved greatly. In 1990 the average yearly salary for
workers and employees in autonomous areas was 2,040 yuan. It was 3,970
yuan in 1994. In 1990 the average yearly income for peasants and herders
was 546 yuan. It was 944 yuan in 1994.
Because of its high altitude, poor natural conditions and the dark rule
of the feudal serf system for an extended period in the past, Tibet is
comparatively backward economically and culturally, so the state has
given special care to Tibet's development. In July 1994 the Central
Government decided that the rest of China should help Tibet with 62
construction projects with an estimated investment of 2.38 billion yuan.
The projects include mainly infrastructure, such as water supply,
electricity, roads, power, telecommunications, schools and hospitals. The
purpose is to lay a good foundation for the full-fledged development of
Tibet. More than 40 projects have been completed and handed over for use.
Actual investment has risen to over 3 billion yuan. Completion of these
projects has vigorously promoted economic development in Tibet, improved
the production and living conditions of Tibetans and raised their
standard of living.
Because of historical and geographic reasons, there is still a big gap
between the ethnic minority areas and inland and coastal areas in terms
of economic and social development. The Chinese government has made great
efforts to narrow the gap and has achieved obvious results. It will
continue its efforts to bring about a change for the better in backward
minority areas.
The Chinese government has always respected and valued the traditional
culture of ethnic minorities. It has allocated large sums of money for
the protection and maintenance of historical relics and sites of ethnic
minorities. Between 1989 and 1994 the government invested 53 million yuan
to completely renovate the world-famous Potala Palace in Tibet and
finished 111 projects. This is the biggest renovation of the Potala
Palace since it was constructed early in the Qing Dynasty in the mid-17th
century. In 1991 the government invested more than 30 million yuan and
provided manpower and material for the renovation of the Kumbum
Monastery, an establishment of Tibetan Buddhism in Qinghai.
The government makes great efforts to nurture and develop the culture and
art of ethnic minorities. In March 1992 the third China Art Festival was
held in Kunming, Yunnan Province, with 56 ethnic groups participating. In
January 1995 a music and dance invitation performance of 56 ethnic groups
was held in Shanghai, promoting the development and prosperity of
national music and dance. With government support, a number of cultural
and artistic troupes of ethnic minorities have visited foreign countries.
The government has always respected and guaranteed ethnic minorities'
right to use and develop their own spoken and written languages. In the
performance of their functions the autonomous organs in autonomous areas
use one or several local languages according to the regulations of
autonomy set by the autonomous areas. Broadcasting, television, cinema,
books, newspapers and magazines in autonomous areas use one or several
local languages. On June 19, 1991, the State Council approved the
Circular on the Report Regarding Further Improving Work on the Spoken and
Written Languages of Ethnic Minorities submitted by the State
Nationalities Affairs Commission and referred it to those concerned. The
circular demanded strengthening the formulation of laws governing the use
of native languages, standardizing the languages and information
processing of the various ethnic groups, and promoting translation,
publishing, education, news, broadcasting, television, films, the
collating of ancient books, academic research, cooperation and exchanges
in native languages and the training of personnel.
Since 1991, with the support of the government, the traditional medical
sciences and pharmacies of ethnic minorities have been enriched and
developed. More and more people are now engaged in Tibetan, Mongolian,
Uygur, Kazak, and Dai medical science and pharmacy--over 6,000 to date.
There are over 500 hospitals and folk clinics of medicine of ethnic
minorities.
Since the Chinese government respects and guarantees all the rights and
interests ethnic minorities are entitled to enjoy under the law, and
since it pays much attention to and supports the political, economic and
cultural development of autonomous areas, in China's minority areas today
the political situation is stable, the economy and culture are developing
and the life of ethnic minorities is improving every year. All 56 ethnic
groups in China live in harmony, are united and friendly to one another,
and support and help one another.
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