The Chinese government said on Tuesday it will not get sidetracked from its current ethnic autonomy policy despite the deadly July 5 riot in Urumqi.

However, improvements will be made if needed, said the country's ethnic affairs commission at a press conference in Beijing.

"The policy has been proven effective and successful."

"But as time progresses, we will improve the policy, but will not abandon the policy because of a single incident,” said Wu Shimin, vice minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.

Wu also said China's ethnic policy has "nothing to do with the violent crimes in Xinjiang".

"The ethnic autonomy policy in China has covered a total of 110 million ethnic population nationwide, but violent crimes only take place in Urumqi, which once again proves the policy is not the cause of the riot," Wu said.

(Chinadaily.com.cn July 21, 2009)