China Tibet Online
The past three central work conferences on ethnic affairs held in 1992，1999 and 2005 respectively formulated China’s ethnic policies. The China Tibet Online summarized four main points as follows:
One nation
China is a multi-ethnic country. In the long course of history, various ethnic groups have lived together in close ties，interacting with one another and sharing weals and woes，forming a unified Chinese nation.
The current territory of China has taken shape through joint efforts of various ethnic groups in the big family of the Chinese nation over a long period of time. This structure has greatly promoted the economic, political and cultural exchanges between different ethnic groups，enhanced their allegiance toward the central authorities and recognition of the Chinese culture, consolidated the cohesion，vitality and creativity of the Chinese nation，and contributed to the uniformity and diversity of the Chinese civilization.
Two themes
The population distribution of all nationalities in China features the ethnic Han and minorities living together in large areas, ethnic minorities living in certain smaller areas， and all ethnic groups mixing together in living areas. The ethnic autonomous areas account for 64 percent of the country’s total land territory，and most of the western and border areas are inhabited by ethnic minorities.
Over the years, China’s central government has prioritized supporting the economic development and social progress of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas in its overall policy，which have created a good environment for China’s ethnic unity and common prosperity.
Since 2011,the central government has provided a total of 5.3 trillion yuan in transfer payment for the eight provinces and autonomous region of ethnic minorities. From 2010 to 2013, the domestic product of the eight provinces and autonomous regions have increased from 4.2 trillion yuan to 6.4 trillion yuan,and per capita GDP up from 22,196 yuan to 33,711 yuan.
Three “inseparables”
Ethnic unity is China’s fundamental principle of ethnic affairs, and the core of its ethnic policies. As long as ethnic unity is achieved in China, the goal of national unification, long-term peace and stability, social harmony and improving people’s livelihood will be achieved.
Over the years, the mindset that “the Han is inseparable from ethnic minorities and vice versa, and each ethnic minority is inseparable from one another” has been established among all ethnic groups.
On the basis of equality, mutual respect, mutual trust, learning from and cooperation between each other, all nationalities have consolidated and developed unified and harmonious relations committed to the socialist modernization drive in order to accomplish national prosperity, rejuvenation and people’s wellbeing.
Four recognitions
Both history and facts prove that as long as all ethnic groups are unified, the country will be prosperous. But if disputes exist among different ethnic groups, the country will be separated and its people will suffer. Therefore, all ethnic groups have increased their recognition toward their motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture and the socialist road with the Chinese characteristics in the process of communication, exchanges and integration.
