THE SENSE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF ETHNIC SOLIDARITY

THE SENSE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF ETHNIC SOLIDARITY*

August 27, 2021

Since its founding in 1921, our Party has sought solutions to ethnic issues that conform to China’s realities. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, the Party established the basic framework of ethnic theories and policies centered on ethnic equality and solidarity, regional ethnic autonomy, and common prosperity for all ethnic groups in China. Within this framework, we created the basic systems and policies for governing ethnic affairs. With these institutions in place, all our ethnic groups were able to enjoy equality, achieve solidarity, and make genuine progress under socialism.

Since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, particularly since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, our Party has highlighted concepts including the Chinese nation as one big family, the Chinese nation as one single community, and a stronger sense of national identity. We have consistently implemented the Party’s theories and policies concerning ethnic groups while adapting to the changing times. We have thus accumulated precious experience in understanding and addressing ethnic issues. We have established a set of important principles for strengthening and improving the Party’s ethnic work. They are summarized as follows: 

First, we must direct the Party’s work on ethnic affairs in the new era from the strategic perspective of national rejuvenation. The Chinese nation is in a critical stage of development towards historic revitalization. This is the context of the Party’s current ethnic work. The success of this endeavor determines national unity, borderland peace, ethnic solidarity, social stability, long-term state governance, and national revival. Therefore, we must plan, coordinate and advance the Party’s ethnic undertakings for the new era towards one immutable goal – to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

Second, we must motivate all ethnic groups to strive for all-round socialist modernization as a priority of the Party’s work on ethnic affairs in the new era. In building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, each and every one of the 56 ethnic groups shares the same mission. Without the hard work by all ethnic groups in unity, it will be impossible to realize socialist modernization; without common prosperity for all ethnic groups, there will be no socialist modernization either. With the Chinese people’s expectation for a better life as our motivation, we must mobilize all ethnic groups to keep pace with the times, forge ahead in unity, and work together for common prosperity on the road towards socialist modernization. 

Third, we must heighten the sense of national identity as the underlying principle for the Party’s work on ethnic affairs in the new era. The sense of the Chinese nation as one community is the cornerstone of ethnic unity in our country. We should see that all ethnic groups develop a sound understanding of country, history, ethnicity, culture and religion, a keen awareness of being the citizens of one unified country under the rule of law, and a strong sense of identity with China, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. 

Fourth, we must develop a good understanding of the history of the Chinese nation. China is a unified multiethnic country. Diversity and integration is a distinctive ethnic feature of our country. Together, all the 56 ethnic groups opened up our vast territory, created our long history, shaped our splendid culture, and cultivated our great national ethos. We should know well the origin and evolution of the Chinese civilization, the unity in diversity of the Chinese nation and culture, and the fruits of the Chinese civilization and its contribution to human progress. With this in mind, we will have a stronger sense of national identity and pride. 

Fifth, we must uphold the equality of all ethnic groups. In the one big family of the Chinese nation, all ethnic groups are equal, regardless of their population size, length of history, and level of development. We must ensure all ethnic groups jointly administer state affairs as masters of the country. We must protect the lawful rights and interests of all ethnic groups, resolutely oppose Han chauvinism and regional ethnic chauvinism, and prohibit discrimination against any ethnic group.

Sixth, we must safeguard the unity of the Chinese nation. As ethnic unity is the lifeline of the Chinese people, we must put the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in first place. In practice, we must apply the Party’s ethnic theories and policies comprehensively, initiate and strengthen education on ethnic solidarity and progress, and consolidate and develop our socialist ethnic relations featuring equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony. Our ultimate goal is to ensure all ethnic groups remain as close as the seeds of a pomegranate. 

Seventh, we must uphold and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy. Regional ethnic autonomy is one of China’s basic political systems. It is an important institutional guarantee for properly addressing our country’s ethnic issues with a distinctive Chinese approach. The system of regional ethnic autonomy serves the fundamental purpose of national unity and ethnic solidarity. In implementing this system, we must uphold the Party’s overall leadership and the authority of the Central Committee, and ensure the effective implementation of the Central Committee’s policies and decisions. We must ensure that, through the enforcement of state laws and regulations, people from all ethnic groups enjoy their rights and interests and fulfill their obligations in accordance with the law on an equal basis. We should assist all ethnic groups in growing their economies, improving their wellbeing, and achieving common development towards common prosperity. 

Eighth, we must build a cultural home shared by the Chinese nation. The Chinese culture is a great integration of all the outstanding ethnic cultures of our country. We should inspire all our ethnic groups to foster and practice the core socialist values, and to carry forward our national ethos with patriotism at its core and the spirit of our times with reform and innovation at its core. We should highlight the symbols and image of the Chinese culture shared by all our ethnic groups, creating a strong bond among them, and inspiring them to forge ahead in unity and interdependence. 

Ninth, we must promote interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups. This is an important approach to building the Chinese nation into a strong community. Adapting to the changing times, we should create a social structure and social conditions for people from all ethnic groups to live and work together in harmony, join in contributing to social progress, and share the fruits of common development. We should reinforce their affinity and unity in terms of ideals, convictions, mindset and culture, so that they will support one another like siblings in one big family.

Tenth, we must manage ethnic affairs in accordance with the law. Administration of ethnic affairs is an integral part of state governance. We must adopt a law-based approach to ethnic affairs, safeguard the consistency of our socialist legal system and the dignity of the rule of law, and modernize our system and capacity for the governance of ethnic affairs. We should cultivate public confidence in the law, inspiring our people from all ethnic groups to uphold, study, observe and apply the law. Individuals from all ethnic groups are equal before the law; no one can be above the law. 

Eleventh, we must resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests. Without national unity and national security, there can be no progress towards common prosperity for all ethnic groups. We should pursue a holistic approach to national security, and through education and guidance, encourage our people from all ethnic groups to carry forward the patriotic tradition by safeguarding the unity, security and stability of our country. At the same time, we must stay vigilant against and strike hard at all forms of violent terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism, and defend against all acts of infiltration, subversion and sabotage by external hostile forces. 

Twelfth, we must champion the Party’s leadership over work related to ethnic affairs. The leadership of the CPC is the fundamental guarantee for the success in governing ethnic affairs and safeguarding ethnic unity in our country. Therefore, we should strengthen the Party’s overall leadership over ethnic work, increase our ability and performance in handling ethnic affairs, and improve the training of officials responsible for ethnic affairs and those posted in ethnic minority areas. Primary-level Party organizations should play a key role in fostering a stronger sense of national identity, leading the people towards prosperity, maintaining social stability, securing borderland territory, and combating separatism. 

These ideas on improving the approaches to ethnic affairs represent our Party’s theoretical and practical understanding of its work with ethnic communities, and serve as the fundamental guidelines for governing ethnic affairs in the new era. All Party members must understand and implement the thoughts thoroughly, accurately and comprehensively.

* Part of the speech at the Central Conference on Ethnic Affairs.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)