|
|
Regional ethnic autonomy vital for socialism with Chinese characteristics (2) |
 |
+ |
- |
16:16, August 07, 2007 |
The establishment of the organs of self-government and the exercise of regional ethnic autonomy is essentially to respect and ensure the equal rights of ethnic groups, so as to enable them to govern the internal affairs of their ethnic groups.
Late Premier Zhou Enlai once said to late Vice-President Ulanhu that Inner Mongolia very much resembled a galloping steed in term of its land shape. Today, regional ethnic autonomy has not only paven a broad way for the steed to gallop along but the bright, main avenue for common unity and prosperity of all ethnicities across the nation.
To date, China has a total of 155 ethnic minority areas, including the five autonomous regions at the provincial level, 30 autonomous prefectures, and 120 autonomous counties (or banners). Of the 55 ethnic groups, 44 have set up ethnic minority areas. The combined population of ethnic groups in these areas currently accounts for 71 percent of the total population of China''s ethnic minorities, and their combined land area covers over 64 percent of China''s total space. The exercise of regional ethnic autonomy has helped people of all ethnicities to live in peace and harmony and to seek for their harmonious development, with each ethnicity to do its best and to bring every possible factor into play in the big family of the unitary socialist motherland.
Moreover, 13 border ports, including Heihe, Suifenhe and Manzhouli, have pressed ahead with social reforms and changes in ethnic minority areas in the opening-up drive that had started in the last 1970s; the strategy to open up the mid-and-west China is aimed to develop the outlying ethnic minority areas, which constitute over 85 percent of its land space; the completion of the Qinghai-Tibet railway on the roof of the world has become the focus of global attention and injected a new lease of life into socio-economic growth in ethnic minority areas.
In the "grand view garden" of policies on regional ethnic autonomy, China''s minority regional autonomy is particualy enticing and eye-catching. In view of situations in the contemporary world, the entire globe has 3,000-strong ethnicities inhabiting in more than 200 counties and regions. Hence, the ethnic issue has been and remains to be a major world issue, which has a bearing on the internal security of a nation, but is often the focus of international situation. Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, some countries have disintegrated, whilst other nations are rid with sectarian violence with large-scale racial clashes and bloodshed. In the world of tumults and chaos, China has stood severe tests and retains an excellent situation with its national and ethnical unity and social stability.
"Difficulties and problems in ethnic minority areas, in the final analysis, have to be resolved through development effort," noted Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and he advocated working jointly and assiduously for common prosperity and development as the very theme of the work with ethnicities in the new era of the new century.
With a cycle of 60 years in chronology in line in the traditional Chinese calendar, regional ethnical autonomy is currently at a new starting point. Inner Mongolia autonomous region is presenting the world with its glorious history and concrete achievements with a sense of pride and inspiration to mark its 60th birthday. By persevering in and going on to improving regional ethnic autonomy and pooling the resolve, intelligence and abilities of all ethnicities, China is sure to accomplish its great rejuvenation. And the force of unity is all powerful and irresistible, as along as all its 56 ethnicities join ranks and are more united as ever before.
Translated by People''s Daily Online
[1] [2]
|
|
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article