SCIO press conference on 'China: Democracy That Works' white paper
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 7, 2021
Phoenix TV:
The system of regional ethnic autonomy is an important part of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics. Some voices from the international community believe that the Chinese government has tightened its management of ethnic minority groups, and that ethnic minorities don't have authentic autonomy. What's your comment on that? Thank you.
Xu Yousheng:
Thank you for your question. We know that the system of regional ethnic autonomy is a basic political system in China. It provides an important institutional guarantee for following the correct path of resolving ethnic problems according to Chinese principles. The system of regional ethnic autonomy means that areas with large ethnic minority populations can practice regional autonomy, establish autonomous organs and exercise the power of self-government under the unified leadership of the state. There are currently 155 ethnic autonomous areas in China, including five autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures and 120 autonomous counties (banners). The area where regional ethnic autonomy is practiced accounts for 64% of the entire territory of China.
The system of regional ethnic autonomy is fundamentally aimed at maintaining national unity and ethnic solidarity. All autonomous organs of these areas are local governments subject to the unified leadership of the central government. They must ensure that national policies and orders are implemented smoothly and that national laws and regulations are enforced. On that basis, they must guarantee the equal rights and obligations of various ethnic groups in accordance with the law, support their economic development and improve their citizens' quality of life, achieve common development and common prosperity, and ensure that the autonomy of ethnic groups is fully realized. The ethnic autonomous areas enjoy autonomous rights across a wide range of fields, including legislative power, the right of economic development, the right of financial management, the right to cultivate and appoint ethnic minority officials, the right to develop education and culture and the right to use their own spoken and written languages, among others. Take the training and appointment of ethnic minority officials, something the CPC and Chinese government prioritizes, as an example. After more than 70 years, we have built a sizable and qualified team of ethnic minority officials, which has laid an important organizational foundation for implementing the system of regional ethnic autonomy. On all standing committees of people's congresses of the 155 ethnic autonomous areas, there are citizens from the local ethnic groups assuming the office of chair or vice chair. Likewise, all governors, prefectural commissioners and heads of counties of ethnic autonomous areas are citizens from local ethnic groups.
Practice has proved that China's implementation of the system of regional ethnic autonomy is not only conducive to national unity, ethnic solidarity, and social stability, but also conducive to the development and progress of ethnic minorities and the long-term stability of the country. In the nine years from 2012 to 2020, the regional GDP of the five autonomous regions of Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Tibet, Ningxia, and Xinjiang and the three multi-ethnic provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Qinghai increased from 5.1 trillion yuan to 10.4 trillion yuan; the per capita regional GDP increased from 27,000 yuan to 52,000 yuan; and the urbanization rate increased from 43.1% to 55.1%. All 31.21 million impoverished people in ethnic minority areas have been lifted out of poverty, 420 state-level impoverished counties in ethnic autonomous areas have all gotten rid of poverty, and together with the rest of the country, they have achieved moderately prosperity in all respects.
As to whether the system of regional ethnic autonomy is good or not, whether it works or not, it should be judged by the Chinese people. The development and progress of ethnic minority areas, and the tangible data of people of all ethnic groups living a good life, are the best and most resounding answers. Thank you.
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