The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, China’s fundamental law on ethnic affairs, entered into force on Wednesday, to strengthen law-based governance in the country’s ethnic affairs.
Adopted in March by the National People’s Congress, the law was designed to enhance cohesion and common prosperity among all 56 ethnic groups. This comes as the country enters the final decade of its drive to basically achieve modernisation by 2035.
China’s ethnic minority population exceeded 125 million, accounting for 8.89 percent of the country’s total, the 2020 census showed. The degree of exchange and integration among different ethnic groups has reached an unparalleled level, authorities say, driven in part by efforts to eradicate absolute poverty and advance urbanisation.
As the law comes into effect, governments at all levels will need to rigorously implement its key priorities, such as promoting extensive exchanges, interactions and integration among all ethnic groups, and advancing their common development, said Yan Qing, a professor at Minzu University of China.
It stipulates that upholding national unity and ethnic solidarity is the responsibility of all Chinese citizens, and prohibits discrimination and suppression against any ethnic group.
It also combats violent terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism, holding organizers, planners, perpetrators, instigators and funders of these activities criminally liable.
The law can be seen as a summary of China’s practical experience in countering separatism, terrorism and radicalisation, while also focusing on ethnic unity and progress, said Hu Haifeng, director of the institute of ethnology at the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences.
The law stipulates that the state shall promote the standard spoken and written Chinese language, while also respecting and safeguarding the right to study and use ethnic minority languages.
“The law elevates into institutional norms both the promotion of a common language among different ethnic groups and the preservation of their respective cultural roots, enabling the cultures of all ethnic groups to flourish within the big family of the Chinese nation,” said Zhu Yafeng, an associate professor at Xinjiang University.
Authorities have promised to strengthen public education of the legislation and follow up on the formulation and revision of local-level regulations.
