Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

I feel very happy to have this opportunity to brief my friends from the media and share my views with you on China's ethnic policies.

The most precious heritage from China's 5,000-year history is, in my view, three folds: one, a land of over 9.6 million square kilometers; two, 56 hard-working, courageous and talented ethnic groups and, three, the age-old rich Chinese culture. This represents the invaluable assets of all ethnic groups in China, to which each of them has made unique contribution. The splendid Chinese culture was nurtured and the united multi-ethnic country was founded by all ethnic groups, just as the vast territory was developed jointly by all ethnic groups.

Over the past six decades since the founding of the People's Republic of China, thanks to the formulation and implementation of ethnic policies by the Chinese government, historic changes have taken place in the outlook of ethnic minorities, ethnic regions and in the relationship among different ethnic groups in China. This has promoted harmony, cooperation and harmonious development of all ethnic groups, as they found a correct way in addressing ethnic questions that fits in the actual conditions in China with distinct Chinese characteristics.

Ethnic policies in China are the crystallization of decades of exploration and practice. In the early years after the founding of New China, the Chinese government, summing up the experience of the Chinese Communist Party in addressing ethnic questions, formulated an ethnic policy featuring equality, unity, ethnic autonomy and common prosperity of all ethnic groups. In the past 60 years, and particularly the past three decades of reform and opening-up, the Chinese government has always attached great importance to ethnic work, and, proceeding from the reality as well as the situation and tasks in different periods, enriched and improved the ethnic policies. Generations of hard work that embodied the wisdom and endeavor of the Chinese communists and the Chinese people formulated a relatively complete system of ethnic policies in the country.

Equality, unity, mutual assistance, harmony and common prosperity--these are the basic principles underlining China's ethnic policies. Among these elements, equality is the cornerstone, unity the theme, mutual assistance the guarantee and harmony the essence while common prosperity represents the objective. These elements are intertwined, supplementary and mutually facilitating, demonstrating the crust of the system of ethnic policies in China. Other elements, including implementing regional ethnic autonomy, developing ethnic minority economy and culture, training ethnic minority officials and professionals and respecting religious faith and customs of ethnic minorities, are all rallying around, reflecting and serving these principles.

There are a few distinct features in China's ethnic policies. First, these policies are incorporated in a relatively complete system. The Chinese government has all along studied ethnic questions and formulated its ethnic policies from a strategic and comprehensive perspective, culminating in a system of ethnic policies that involves the central and local governments and their departments. Second, these policies are formulated in an objective and down-to-earth manner. Facts and reality underline the formulation of ethnic policies so that they fit in the national conditions, go in line with the law of ethnic development and reflect the common aspirations of all ethnic groups. Third, they keep pace with the times. The government is keen on developing and improving its ethnic policies in practice, ensuring both its continuity and adaptability to changes of the times and the expectations of the people. Fourth, priority is given to their implementation. It is emphasized that ethnic policies should be implemented in an all-round way. Efforts are made, through publicity, education, inspection and supervision, to make sure that they are executed in letter and in spirit. Fifth, these policies have distinct Chinese characteristics. While historical experience and the reality are taken into consideration in their formulation, we tried to learn and absorb all the achievements of human civilization and the shared spiritual heritage of humanity, so that these policies better reflect the common aspiration for human progress.

Practice in the past six decades has proved that China's ethnic policies fit in its national conditions and are correct and effective as they have won the support of all ethnic groups and withstood the test of the times. These policies should be carried forward for a long time to come. At the same time, we are soberly aware that China is and will remain for a long time in the primary stage of socialism, a time of common prosperity and development of all ethnic groups with growing commonality but also one in which ethnic features, ethnic differences and the gap in economic and cultural development will remain for a long time to come. Resolving ethnic issue in China will take a long and arduous course.

The world today is undergoing extensive and profound changes, and so is China. The Chinese government will continue to emancipate the minds of the people and, in a pragmatic spirit, advance with the times. In the process of modernization, we will look into the future and open to the world, and will continue to develop and improve in an innovative manner the ethnic policies.

Now, my colleagues and I would like to take your questions.