China News Service:

My question is for Mr. Bayin Chaolu. Recently, some overseas organizations have issued statements claiming that the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law is intended to "assimilate ethnic minorities" and called for human rights sanctions against China. What is your view on these statements? Thank you.

Bayin Chaolu:

Thank you for your question. The enactment of the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law is the shared aspiration of all ethnic groups in China. Since the beginning of the new era, NPC deputies have submitted a total of 700 motions and proposals on enacting the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, reflecting their strong desire for its enactment. After the law was adopted, it received high recognition and firm support from people of all ethnic groups across the country. Many friendly individuals, media outlets and organizations from various countries have given positive comments on this law. They believe that this law is consistent with China's national conditions, aligns with modern governance philosophy and trends in national governance, and provides a referential path for multi-ethnic countries to address ethnic issues. However, some Western institutions and external elements continue to smear China's human rights situation on ethnic issues and spread fallacies, which are saturated with ignorance and prejudice against China. The so-called statements issued by these organizations ignore the tremendous achievements made in China's ethnic regions and in our work on ethnic affairs. These organizations make arbitrary remarks and groundless accusations against China's ethnic policies and rule of law development. Such acts constitute gross interference in China's internal affairs, and we express strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to them.

The Chinese nation is a great nation with a civilization spanning over 5,000 years, and an unbreakable community with a shared future. Throughout its more than 100-year history of struggle, our Party has always attached great importance to resolving ethnic issues and to the work on ethnic affairs, treating the strengthening of ethnic unity as a strategic, fundamental and long-term task, and has successfully blazed the correct path with Chinese characteristics for resolving ethnic issues. Under the leadership of the CPC, people of all ethnic groups have achieved national independence and people's liberation, creating a new situation of equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony among all ethnic groups. Ethnic minority regions have witnessed unprecedented progress in economic and social development, and people’s living standards have reached a historic high. The legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities in China have been more fully safeguarded. Here I would like to give two examples. First, in terms of the economy, as mentioned earlier, we have made achievements in ethnic minority regions and in the work on ethnic affairs. All 420 national-level poverty-stricken counties in ethnic autonomous areas, as well as the 31.21 million impoverished people in five autonomous regions and in Guizhou, Yunnan and Qinghai provinces, were lifted out of absolute poverty as scheduled. Ethnic minorities and ethnic regions joined the rest of the country in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. In the fight against poverty and the realization of a moderately prosperous society, not a single ethnic group was left behind, and not a single person was left behind. As China advances Chinese modernization today, the same principle applies: no ethnic group and no individual can be left behind. Which country or political party could achieve such a feat? As you all know, basic public services and infrastructure in ethnic regions, including education, healthcare, transportation, water and electricity, have been significantly improved. Information networks are available even in the most remote and border areas. These achievements are evident to all. The Chinese government, including local leaders, has introduced these achievements on multiple occasions, including during the "two sessions." All of you should visit these areas and see for yourselves. Seeing is believing, and judgments should be based on facts. What is the point of such biased, fabricated hype driven by prejudice? I believe these tangible development outcomes lay the foundation for achieving equal development among all ethnic groups. How could one fail to see such achievements? Second, in the cultural field, the state has invested substantial funds to protect numerous cultural heritage sites, including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka. It has also translated, collated and published endangered ancient texts such as the Kutadgu Bilig and Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk in Chinese and Uygur, and conducted emergency conservation and restoration on over 3,000 precious cultural relics. Of China's 45 items inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, more than one-third are related to ethnic minority cultures. Both history and reality fully prove that to take the correct Chinese approach to handling ethnic issues is entirely sound.

The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law adapts to the major development trend of the Chinese nation from the past to the future, from tradition to modernity, and from diversity to unity. With the aim of promoting ethnic unity and progress, it fully implements the provisions, principles and spirit of the Constitution. It firmly adheres to the main task of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, incorporates measures and mechanisms that meet the new requirements of the new era into the law, and clarifies the overall layout and key tasks of the cause of ethnic unity and progress. In doing so, it builds a complete, well-defined, coordinated and efficient institutional system with clear rights and responsibilities, ensuring the equality, unity and progress of all ethnic groups. It can be said that this law is a legal summary of the successful practical experience gained from taking the correct and distinctive Chinese approach to handling ethnic affairs.

China's efforts to promote ethnic unity and progress in accordance with the law not only benefit its own people, but also provide Chinese wisdom and solutions for countries around the world to address ethnic issues. We will always unswervingly follow the correct and distinctive Chinese approach to handling ethnic affairs, and encourage people of all ethnic groups across the country to unite and strive in order to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

That is all from me.