LOCAL STYLE: A tourist tries on a piece of ethnic clothing in an area inhabited by the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which is famous for its 650-year-old terraced farmland (CHEN RUIHUA)

The implementation of regional ethnic autonomy is an inevitable choice for China, a white paper issued by the State Council Information Office concluded on September 27.

The paper, titled China's Ethnic Policy and Common Prosperity and Development of All Ethnic Groups, said the policy takes into account history, national conditions and the will of the people.

First, as far as history and traditions are concerned, the long-term existence of a unified multi-ethnic country is the historical background for implementing regional ethnic autonomy, it said.

Second, as far as ethnic relationships are concerned, the Chinese people consist of multi-ethnic groups, and the close and extensive ties among them are the economic and cultural basis for the implementation of regional ethnic autonomy.

Third, as far as the distribution of ethnic groups is concerned, the reality that some groups live together over vast areas while others live in communities in small areas, and the natural, economic and cultural diversity are the actual conditions for enacting the system of regional ethnic autonomy, it noted.

China's regional ethnic autonomy means that under the unified leadership of the state, regional autonomy is exercised and organs of self-government are established in areas where various ethnic minorities live in compact communities.

The establishment of an autonomous area is determined by the relationships among its local ethnic groups, the economic development of the locality and its historical background, the paper said.

At present, in light of the size of the population and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, ethnic autonomous areas are divided into three levels, namely, autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties—equivalent to the standard province, city with districts and county, respectively.

The general ethnic policy of China will not be changed, but improvements will be made to meet new situations, said Yang Jing, Minister in charge of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, at a press conference following the release of the white paper.

Wu Shimin, Vice Minister of the commission, said at the same press conference China would enhance its ethnic policies to facilitate the development of the autonomous regions.

"One important aim of the ethnic policy is to boost the economies in the ethnic autonomous regions since they lag behind other provinces and municipalities in the country despite years of fast development," Wu said.

Wu said efforts would be made to improve the living standards of ethnic minority people. He said the government would also strengthen legal systems in the autonomous regions.

"Regional ethnic autonomy is an important legal system, and the country's Constitution and the spirit of the law will be better embodied in the growth of the autonomous regions," Wu said.

China is home to 56 ethnic groups. The Han ethnic group has the largest population while the other 55 ethnic groups are relatively small and called ethnic minorities. China has five autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous counties or banners for ethnic minorities, according to the white paper.

The population of ethnic minorities reported a continuous increase, from 6.06 percent of the total population in China in 1953 to 8.41 percent in 2000, the white paper said.

The Chinese Government has also attached great importance to economic growth in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities. The Constitution stipulates, "The state does its utmost to promote the common prosperity of all ethnic groups in the country."

The white paper said in 2008 the economic aggregate of the minority areas reached 3.06 trillion yuan ($450.4 billion), from 5.79 billion yuan ($851.5 million) in 1952, an increase of 92.5 times calculated at comparable prices. The per-capita net income of farmers and herdsmen in these areas rose from 138 yuan ($20.3) in 1978 to 3,389 yuan ($498.4), an increase of 19 times.

The white paper also highlighted the fact that all ethnic groups in China have the right to use and develop their own spoken and written languages. It said that state political activities, such as important meetings held by the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, are written in Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur, Kazak, Korean, Yi, Zhuang and other ethnic-minority languages, and language interpretation between Han Chinese and these languages is provided.

What's in the White Paper

I. A Unified Multi-Ethnic Country and a Nation with Diverse Cultures

II. Full Equality Among Ethnic Groups

III. Consolidating and Developing the Great Unity of All Ethnic Groups

IV. Upholding and Improving Regional Ethnic Autonomy

V. Accelerating the Economic and Social Development of the Ethnic Minorities and Minority Areas

VI. Protection and Development of Cultures of the Ethnic Minorities

VII. Striving to Foster Cadres and Talented People of the Ethnic Minorities