China publishes white paper on regional autonomy for ethnic minorities

China published a white paper on Monday saying that the country's regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities adopted half a century ago has been in conformity with the country's "peculiar situation" and proven to be in the common interests of all ethnic groups.

The 12,000-word document entitled Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities in China was issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

The system "is critical to enhancing the relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among different ethnic groups, to upholding national unification, and to accelerating the development of places where regional autonomy is practiced and promoting their progress," the white paper says.

"This major historical decision (to pursue the regional autonomy system) was made out of consideration for the particular situation of China," the white paper says.

By the end of 2003, China had established 155 ethnic autonomous areas, which cover 64 percent of the country's entire territory.

"Before the founding of New China, the ethnic minority areas suffered from low productivity, and underdeveloped economy, society and culture," the white paper says. Most of their populations were illiterate, and they suffered epidemics of such contagious diseases as plague, smallpox and malaria. "Some were on the verge of extinction," it says.

As a result of over half a century's efforts, in the ethnic autonomous areas the people's living conditions and environments have conspicuously improved, people there now "share the achievements of development brought about by the modernization construction of the country," the document says.

In 2003, the GDP of China's ethnic autonomous areas reached 1,038.1 billion yuan (125 billion US dollars), exceeding 1,000 billion yuan for the first time. The per-capita net income of rural residents in ethnic autonomous areas was 1,895 yuan, 2.31 times that in 1994.

Chronicle of China's regional autonomy for ethnic minorities

-- Under the leadership of the CPC, China's first provincial-level ethnic autonomous region -- the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- was established in 1947 in the liberated areas inhabited by Mongolians before the founding of the People's Republic of China.

-- The first session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was convened in September 1949, on the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China. At the suggestion of the CPC, deputies of different ethnic groups and political parties held consultations, and decided to proclaim the establishment of the People's Republic of China as a united multi-ethnic state. The conference also adopted the Common Program of the CPPCC, which actually served as a provisional constitution of the new republic. A chapter in the Common Program specially expounded on New China's ethnic policies, and clearly defined regional autonomy for ethnic minorities as a basic policy of the state.

-- As early as 1952, the Chinese government issued the Program for the Implementation of Regional Ethnic Autonomy of the People's Republic of China, which included clear provisions on such important issues as the establishment of ethnic autonomous areas and the composition of organs of self-government, as well as the right of self-government for such organs.

-- The first National People's Congress, convened in 1954, included the system of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. All subsequent revisions to the Constitution reaffirmed the implementation of this system.

-- In October 1955, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was established.

-- In March 1958, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was established.

-- In October 1958, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established.

-- In September 1965, the Tibet Autonomous Region was established.

-- On May 31, 1984, on the basis of summarizing the experience of practicing regional autonomy for ethnic minorities, the second session of the Sixth National People's Congress (NPC) adopted the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, and decided to put it into effect on October 1 of that year.

-- In 1993, the Chinese government issued the Regulations on the Administrative Work of Ethnic Townships to guarantee the implementation of the system of ethnic townships.

-- To meet the need for faster economic and social development of ethnic autonomous areas in the era of the socialist market economy and on the basis of fully respecting and representing the will of the people living in those areas, in 2001 the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress made revisions to the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, thus making the law more complete and effective. And the amended law explicitly stipulates that "the system of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities is a basic political system of the state."

-- By the end of 2003, China had established 155 ethnic autonomous areas. Of these, five are autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous counties or banners. China had, as well, established 1,173 ethnic townships in areas equivalent to townships where ethnic minorities live in compact communities.