China is planning to spend more than 14 billion yuan (about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars) this year on roads to link ethnic minority communities, according to a meeting of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress.

The Ministry of Finance has allocated the funds for road construction in ethnic autonomous regions in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces.

This year's road-building budget is 94 percent more than last year's.

The Ministry of Communications has required local transportation departments to give priority to road construction projects in these areas.

The Ministry of Health will also promote the rural cooperative medicare system, by establishing village clinics and training doctors, in these areas this year.

The State Council Leading Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development will build projects in all poverty-stricken villages inhabited by small minority groups this year.

With 55 ethnic minorities, China has adopted a policy of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities in areas where they live in compact communities.

Source: Xinhua