China's Ethnic Policy and Common Prosperity and Development of All Ethnic Groups

中国的民族政策与各民族共同繁荣发展

【法宝引证码】

Issuing authority： State Council Information Office
Date issued： 09-27-2009

China's Ethnic Policy and Common Prosperity and Development of All Ethnic Groups Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua)		中国的民族政策与各民族共同繁荣发展中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室二○○九年九月·北京
Contents		目录
Preface		前言
I. A Unified Multi-Ethnic Country and a Nation with Diverse Cultures		一、统一的多民族国家和中华民族的多元一体
II. Full Equality among Ethnic Groups		二、坚持各民族一律平等
III. Consolidating and Developing the Great Unity of All Ethnic Groups		三、巩固和发展全国各族人民的大团结
IV. Upholding and Improving Regional Ethnic Autonomy		四、坚持和完善民族区域自治制度
V. Accelerating the Economic and Social Development of the Ethnic Minorities and Minority Areas		五、加快少数民族和民族地区经济社会发展
VI. Protection and Development of Cultures of the Ethnic Minorities		六、保护和发展少数民族文化
VII. Striving to Foster Cadres and Talented People of the Ethnic Minorities		七、加强少数民族干部和人才队伍建设
Conclusion		结束语
Preface We live in a world of diverse peoples. About 3,000 ethnic groups live in over 200 countries and regions in today's world. The overwhelming majority of countries are inhabited by multi-ethnic groups. China is a unified multi-ethnic country jointly created by the people of all its ethnic groups. In the long course of historical evolution people of all ethnic groups in China have maintained close contacts, developed interdependently, communicated and fused with one another, and stood together through weal and woe, forming today's unified multi-ethnic Chinese nation, and promoting the development of the nation and social progress. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, following the guideline of unity among all ethnic groups for common prosperity and drawing on China's historical experience and the useful practices of other countries, always with a view to China's actual situation, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have carved out a path for the successful solution to ethnic issues with Chinese characteristics, exercised the ethnic policy featuring equality, unity, regional ethnic autonomy, and common prosperity for all ethnic groups, thus forming a relatively complete ethnic policy system. This correct ethnic policy in line with China's actual situation has fostered the unity and harmonious coexistence of all ethnic groups who are striving with one mind for economic development, political stability, cultural prosperity and social harmony. The ethnic minorities, minority areas, and relationships among ethnic groups have all experienced tremendous historic changes.		前言我们生活的地球，是一个民族的世界。当今世界，约有3000个民族，分布在200多个国家和地区，绝大多数国家由多民族组成。中国是全国各族人民共同缔造的统一的多民族国家。在漫长的历史进程中，中国各族人民密切交往、相互依存、交流融合、休戚与共，形成了中华民族多元一体的格局，共同开发了祖国的大好河山，共同推动了国家发展和社会进步。新中国成立以来，中国共产党和中国政府牢牢把握各民族共同团结奋斗、共同繁荣发展的主题，坚持从本国国情出发，总结历史经验，借鉴世界其他国家的有益做法，开创了具有中国特色的解决民族问题的正确道路，确立并实施了以民族平等、民族团结、民族区域自治和各民族共同繁荣为基本内容的民族政策，形成了比较完备的民族政策体系。符合国情的正确的民族政策，促进了中国各族人民同心同德、和睦相处、和衷共济，开创了经济发展、政治安定、文化繁荣、社会和谐的良好局面，少数民族的面貌、民族地区的面貌、民族关系的面貌发生了历史性巨大变化。
I. A Unified Multi-Ethnic Country and a Nation with Diverse Cultures Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, some 56 ethnic groups have been identified and confirmed by the central government, namely, the Han, Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, Uyghur, Miao,Yi, Zhuang, Buyei, Korean, Manchu, Dong, Yao, Bai, Tujia, Hani, Kazak, Dai, Li, Lisu, Va, She, Gaoshan, Lahu, Shui, Dongxiang, Naxi, Jingpo, Kirgiz, Tu, Daur, Mulao, Qiang, Blang, Salar, Maonan,Gelao, Xibe, Achang, Pumi, Tajik, Nu, Uzbek, Russian, Ewenki, Deang, Bonan (also Bao' an), Yugur, Jing, Tatar, Derung, Oroqen, Hezhe, Monpa, Lhoba and Jino. The Han ethnic group has the largest population, while the populations of the other 55 ethnic groups are relatively small, and so the latter are customarily referred to as "ethnic minorities." Over the past 60 years, the total population of the ethnic minorities has been on a constant increase, comprising a rising proportion in China's total population. The five national censuses that have been conducted show that the total population of ethnic minorities was 35.32 million in 1953, 6.06 percent of the total population; 40.02 million in 1964, 5.76 percent of the total; 67.30 million in 1982, 6.68 percent of the total; 91.20 million in1990, 8.04 percent of the total; and 106.43 million in 2000, 8.41 percent of the total. The populations of the ethnic groups vary greatly from one to another. For example, the Zhuang has a population of 17 million, far more than that of the Hezhe, numbering only some 4,000. Some of China's ethnic groups inhabit vast areas, while others live in individual compact communities in small areas or live in mixture. In some cases, minority peoples can be found living in compact communities in areas inhabited mainly by Han people, while in other cases the situation is the other way round. Many minority peoples have part of their population living in one or more compact communities and the rest are scattered across the country. China's northwest and southwest are the two regions where minority peoples are most concentrated. Western China, consisting of nine provinces, three autonomous regions and one municipality directly under the central government, is home to 70 percent of China's minority population. The nine border provinces and autonomous regions are home to 60 percent of China's minority population. As China's economy and society continue to develop, the scope of minority population distribution is growing. So far, the scattered minority population across the country has topped 30 million. In places where ethnic minorities live in compact communities, the minority populations are usually small, whereas the areas they live in are often large and rich in resources. The areas of grassland and forest, and water and natural gas reserves in areas inhabited by minority peoples account for nearly or over half of the national totals. Of China's over-22,000-km terrestrial boundary, 19,000 km traverses minority areas. In addition, the minority areas boast 85 percent of the country's state-level natural reserves, making them an important guardian of China's ecology. The origins and development of ethnic groups in China are diverse, and have been shaped by local conditions. Some 4,000-5,000 years ago, five major ethnic groups -- the Huaxia, Dongyi, Nanman, Xirong and Beidi -- emerged on what is now the Chinese territory. Through continuous migration, living together, intermarriage and communication, the five ethnic groups became assimilated to each other in the course of their development, and gradually became integrated into one, from which new ethnic groups continually sprang up. Some of the latter remain distinct to this day, while others, including the once-renowned Xiongnu (Hun), Yuezhi (or Rouzhi), Xianbei, Rouran, Tuyuhun, Tujue, Dangxiang, Khitan and Saka peoples, have disappeared in the course of history due to wars, deterioration of the eco-environment or loss of identity. Although the origins and histories of ethnic groups in China are different, the overall trend of their development was to form a unified, stable country with multiple ethnic groups. The boundaries and territory of today's China were developed by all ethnic groups in the big family of the Chinese nation during the long course of historical development. The ancestors of the Han people were the first to develop the Yellow River basin and the Central Plains; those of the Tibetan and Qiang peoples, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; those of the Yi and Bai peoples, southwestern China; those of the Manchu, Xibe, Ewenki and Oroqen peoples, northeastern China; those of the Xiongnu, Tujue and Mongolian peoples, the Mongolian grasslands; those of the Li people, Hainan Island; and the ancestors of the ethnic minority peoples of Taiwan, Taiwan Island. As early as in the pre-Qin Dynasty times before 221 BC the concepts of "country" and "unification" had taken shape in the minds of the Chinese people. In 221 BC the Qin Dynasty unified the country for the first time. It set up an administrative system of prefectures and counties, and put the regions, including today's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, where minority peoples were concentrated, under its jurisdiction. The subsequent Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) further consolidated the country's unification. It set up the Protectorate of the Western Regions in today's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and added 17 prefectures to govern the people of all ethnic groups there. In this way, a state with a vast territory, including today's Xinjiang where the ancestors of the various peoples lived, emerged. The Qin and Han dynasties created the fundamental framework of China as a unified multi-ethnic country. The central governments of all dynasties following the Han developed and consolidated the unified multi-ethnic country. The Tang Dynasty (618-907) established the Anxi Protector-general' s Office and Beiting Protector-general' s Office to manage administrative affairs in the Western Regions, including today' s Xinjiang, and set up Dao, Fu and Zhou (equivalent to today' s province, prefecture and county) to administer the minority peoples in central-southern and southwestern China. The Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368), established by the Mongols, appointed aboriginal officials or tuguan (hereditary posts of local administrators filled by chiefs of ethnic minorities) in the Fu and Zhou of the southern regions where minority peoples lived in compact communities. The central government set up the Commission for Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs under it and three Pacification Commissioner's Commanderies in Tibet, whereby Tibet was thenceforth brought under the effective administration of the central government of China. The Yuan also founded the Penghu Military Inspectorate for the administration of the Penghu Islands and Taiwan. Most of modern China's ethnic groups were subjects of the Yuan Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), founded by the Manchus, set up the Ili Generalship and Xin-jiang Province in the Western Regions, appointed Grand Minister Resident in Tibet and established the system of conferring honorific titles on two Living Buddhas -- the Dalai and Panchen -- by the central government. In addition, the Qing court carried out a series of political reforms in southwestern China, including the policy of gaituguiliu, i.e., appropriating the governing power of local hereditary aboriginal chieftains and setting up the system of appointment of local administrators by the central government in the minority areas. China's territory in the Qing Dynasty was basically the same as that of today. Despite short-term separations and local divisions in Chinese history, unification has always been the mainstream and trend in the development of the country. The central governments of the various periods, whether they were founded by the Han people or minority groups, considered themselves as "orthodox reigns" of China, and regarded the establishment of a unified multi-ethnic state their highest political goal. The vast territory of China, the time-honored and splendid Chinese culture and the unified multi-ethnic country are all parts of the legacy built by all ethnic groups in China. The long-standing existence of a unified multi-ethnic state in Chinese history greatly enhanced the economic, political and cultural exchanges among different ethnic groups, reinforced their allegiance to the central government and their identification with Chinese culture, and strengthened the cohesion force, vitality and creativity of the Chinese nation, giving rise to the unification and diversity of Chinese civilization. Traditionally, the Han people, accounting for the majority of China' s total population, mainly lived in the Central Plains on the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, where the mild climate and flat, fertile land were suitable for farming. The minority peoples mostly lived in peripheral areas, where the abundant grasslands, deserts, forests, plateaus, mountains, hills and lakes were favorable for stock raising, hunting and fishery. The "tea-horse" and "silk-horse" trade between the Han people in the Central Plains and the surrounding minority peoples satisfied the demand of the Han people for horses for use in agriculture, transportation and military affairs while catering to the needs of minority peoples for daily necessities, thereby boosting economic complementarity and common development. The Liao (916-1125), Jin (1115-1234), Western Xia (1038-1227), and Dali (937-1253) states, established by minority peoples in various parts of China, quite clearly drew on the experience of the Han rulers of various dynasties in government system and territorial control, and absorbed many elements of the Central Plains culture. The melodies and musical instruments of the Western Regions and regions beyond the Great Wall were continuously introduced to the Central Plains, and enriched and influenced the music there. As exchanges and fusion among various ethnic groups deepened, the distribution pattern of living together and complementing each other increasingly solidified the relationship of interdependence and common development. For over a century from the first Opium War in 1840, China suffered repeated invasions and bullying by Western powers. On the verge of national subjugation and genocide, the destiny of all ethnic groups in China was linked more closely than ever before. At the critical moment when China faced the danger of being carved up, and when the nation was on the verge of being subjugated, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups united as one, and put up the most arduous and bitter struggles against foreign invaders in order to save the country. In the 19th century, Qing troops, supported by people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, wiped out the invading Yakoob Beg's forces of Central Asia' s Kokand Khanate and defeated the British and Russian invaders' plot to split China. Tibetan people and troops dealt a heavy blow to British invaders at the Battle of Mount Lungthur in 1888 and the Battle of Gyangtse in 1904. In the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression after Japan invaded China on September 18, 1931, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups shared bitter hatred of the enemy, and fought dauntlessly and unflinchingly. Many anti-Japanese forces with ethnic minorities as the mainstay, such as the Hui People's Detachment and the Inner Mongolia' s Daqingshan Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Contingent, made great contributions to China' s victory in that war. While resisting foreign invasions, the people of all ethnic groups fought unswervingly and succeeded in safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity against acts aimed at splitting the country, including plots for the "independence of Tibet," setting up of an "East Turkestan" in Xinjiang and the creation of a puppet state of "Manchukuo" in northeast China, hatched or engineered by ethnic separatists with the support of exterior forces. In the anti-invasion and anti-separatist struggles of modern times, the inseparable relationship among all ethnic groups in China formed in history was further consolidated. All ethnic groups were bound closer together by a common destiny of sharing weal and woe, and felt a stronger sense of responsibility as creators of Chinese history. The common cultural and psychological characteristics of all ethnic groups in China became increasingly more mature and outstanding. Today, the Chinese nation has become a name with which all ethnic groups in China identify themselves and to which they give their allegiance.		一、统一的多民族国家和中华民族的多元一体图表1：五次人口普查少数民族人口数及占全国总人口的比例（略） 1949年中华人民共和国成立以来，通过识别并经中央政府确认，中国共有民族56个，即汉、蒙古、回、藏、维吾尔、苗、彝、壮、布依、朝鲜、满、侗、瑶、白、土家、哈尼、哈萨克、傣、黎、傈僳、佤、畲、高山、拉祜、水、东乡、纳西、景颇、柯尔克孜、土、达斡尔、仫佬、羌、布朗、撒拉、毛南、仡佬、锡伯、阿昌、普米、塔吉克、怒、乌孜别克、俄罗斯、鄂温克、德昂、保安、裕固、京、塔塔尔、独龙、鄂伦春、赫哲、门巴、珞巴和基诺族。其中，汉族人口占绝大多数，其他55个民族人口相对较少，习惯上称为“少数民族”。 60年来，中国的少数民族人口持续增加，占全国人口比重呈上升之势。根据已经进行的五次全国人口普查，少数民族人口1953年为3532万人，占全国总人口的6．06％；1964年为4002万人，占5．76％；1982年为6730万人，占6．68％；1990年为9120万人，占8．04％；2000年为10643万人，占8．41％。各少数民族人口数量相差较大，如壮族有1700万人，而赫哲族只有4000多人。（见图表1）中国各民族的人口分布呈现大散居、小聚居、交错杂居的特点。汉族地区有少数民族聚居，民族地区也有汉族居住，你中有我、我中有你；许多少数民族既有一块或几块聚居区，又散居全国各地。西南和西北是少数民族分布最集中的两个区域。西部12个省、自治区、直辖市居住着全国近70％的少数民族人口，边疆9个省、自治区居住着全国近60％的少数民族人口。随着中国经济社会的发展，少数民族人口分布范围进一步扩大，目前全国散居地区少数民族人口已超过3000万。中国少数民族聚居区大都地广人稀，资源富集。民族地区的草原面积，森林和水力资源蕴藏量，以及天然气等基础储量，均超过或接近全国的一半。全国2．2万多公里陆地边界线中的1．9万公里在民族地区。全国的国家级自然保护区面积中民族地区占到85％以上，是国家的重要生态屏障。中国各民族的起源和发展有着本土性、多元性、多样性的特点。距今四五千年前，中华大地上就形成了华夏、东夷、南蛮、西戎、北狄五大民族集团。各民族在发展中互相吸收，经过不断的迁徙、杂居、通婚和交流，逐步融合为一体，又不断产生新的民族。其结果是有存有亡，有的民族延续至今，有的却由于融合、战争以及生态环境恶化和改换名称等原因而消失在历史的长河中，包括显赫一时的匈奴、月氏、鲜卑、柔然、吐谷浑、突厥、党项、契丹和塞种人等。中国各民族形成和发展的情况虽然各不相同，但总的方向是发展成为统一的多民族国家，汇聚成为统一稳固的中华民族。今天中国的疆域和版图，是中华大家庭中各民族在长期的历史发展中共同开发形成的。汉族的祖先最先开发了黄河流域和中原地区，藏、羌族最先开发了青藏高原，彝、白等民族最先开发了西南地区，满、锡伯、鄂温克、鄂伦春等民族的祖先最先开发了东北地区，匈奴、突厥、蒙古等民族先后开发了蒙古草原，黎族最先开发了海南岛，台湾少数民族的先民最先开发了台湾岛…… 早在先秦时期，中国先民的“天下”观念和“大一统”理念便已形成。公元前221年，秦朝实现了中国历史上第一次大统一，在全国设郡县加以统治，今天广西、云南等少数民族较为集中的区域都纳入秦朝管辖之下。汉朝（公元前206年-公元220年）进一步发展了统一的局面，在今新疆地区设置西域都护府，管辖包括新疆地区在内的广大地区，并增设17郡统辖四周各民族，形成了包括今天新疆各族人民先民在内的疆域宽广的国家。秦汉开创了中国统一的多民族国家基本格局。汉朝以后的历代中央政权发展和巩固了统一的多民族国家的格局。唐朝（618-907年）设安西和北庭两大都护府，管辖包括今天新疆在内的西域地区，设道、府、州或羁縻府、州，管辖中南和西南各少数民族。蒙古族建立的元朝（1206-1368年），在南方部分少数民族聚居的府、州设土官（以少数民族首领充任并世袭的地方行政长官），在中央设宣政院统辖西藏事务，在西藏分设三路宣慰司都元帅府，西藏从此处于中央政府有效行政管理之下，并设澎湖巡检司管理澎湖列岛和台湾。元朝的民族成分包括现今中国绝大多数民族。满族建立的清朝（1644-1911年），在西域设伊犁将军并建新疆行省，在西藏设驻藏大臣，确立由中央政府册封达赖、班禅两大活佛的历史定制，在西南一些少数民族地区实行废除土司制度、选派官员统一管理的“改土归流”（少数民族地方行政长官由中央政府委派）政治改革，最终确定了今天中国的版图。中国历史上虽然出现过短暂的割据局面和局部分裂，但国家统一始终是主流和方向。无论是汉族还是少数民族，都以自己建立的中央政权为中华正统，都把实现多民族国家的统一作为最高政治目标。广袤的疆域是各民族共同开拓的，悠久灿烂的中华文化是各民族共同发展的，统一的多民族国家是各民族共同缔造的。统一多民族国家的长期延续，极大地促进了各民族之间的经济、政治和文化交流，增进了各民族对中央政权的向心力和对中华文化的认同感，增强了中华民族的凝聚力、生命力和创造力，促进形成了中华文明的统一性和多样性。历史上，占中国人口多数的汉族主要生活聚居在黄河、长江中下游的中原地区。这里气候温和、土地平坦且肥沃，宜于农耕。而少数民族，大多分布于周边地区，这些地区多草原、沙漠、森林、高原、高山、丘陵、湖泊等，宜于牧业、狩猎、渔业。周边少数民族与中原地区通过“茶马互市”、“绢马互市”等，既满足了中原农业、交通和军事对马匹的需求，也满足了少数民族的日常生活所需，促进了经济互补和共同发展。少数民族建立的辽、金、西夏、大理等政权，在制度建立、疆土治理方面，明显吸收了汉族中原政权的统治经验，融入了中原文化的很多元素。塞北、西域优美的曲调和乐器不断传入中原，对中原音乐的丰富和发展产生了重大影响。随着各民族之间交往和融合程度的加深，交错杂居、共生互补的格局逐步形成，相互依存、共同发展的关系日趋稳固。 1840年鸦片战争之后的100多年间，中国屡遭西方列强的侵略、欺凌，亡国灭种的危机把中国各民族的命运更加紧密地联结在一起。在国家面临被列强瓜分、民族生死存亡的危急关头，各族人民奋起反抗、共赴国难。19世纪，新疆各族人民支持清朝军队消灭了中亚浩罕国阿古柏的入侵势力，挫败了英、俄侵略者企图分裂中国的阴谋。西藏军民在1888年的隆吐山战役和1904年的江孜战役中，重创英国侵略者。自1931年“九·一八”事件后，在反抗日本帝国主义侵略的抗日战争中，中国各族人民同仇敌忾、浴血奋战，其中的回民支队、内蒙古大青山抗日游击队等许多以少数民族为主的抗日力量，为抗战胜利作出了不可磨灭的贡献。各族人民在反抗外来侵略的同时，针对一小撮民族分裂分子在外部势力扶持下策划、制造的“西藏独立”、“东突厥斯坦”、伪“满洲国”等分裂行径，进行了坚决的斗争，捍卫了国家统一和领土完整。在近代反侵略、反分裂的伟大斗争中，各民族在历史上形成的不可分离的关系变得更加牢固，各民族福祸与共、休戚相关的命运共同体的特征更加凸显，各族人民作为中国历史主人的责任感得到了进一步激发和增强，中国各民族共同的文化和心理特征更趋成熟。今天，中华民族已经成为各民族普遍认同的统称和归属。
II. Full Equality among Ethnic Groups Equality among ethnic groups is a cornerstone of China's ethnic policy. Full equality among ethnic groups is a constitutional principle of China. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Constitution") stipulates: "All ethnic groups in the People's Republic of China are equal." Based on this principle, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy (hereinafter referred to as the "Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy") and other laws and regulations make clear and detailed stipulations about equality among ethnic groups. In China, the definition of full equality among ethnic groups includes three aspects: first, regardless of their population size, length of history, area of residence, level of economic and social development, differences in spoken and written languages, religious beliefs, folkways and customs, every ethnic group has equal political status; second, all ethnic groups in China have not only political and legal equality, but also economic, cultural and social equality; third, citizens of all ethnic groups are equal before the law, enjoying the same rights and performing the same duties. With unremitting efforts throughout the past 60 years, China has basically established a legal system with Chinese characteristics to guarantee the equality of all its ethnic groups. The right to equality among all ethnic groups is ensured by law. -- Freedom and rights of the person are inviolable. The Constitution and laws of China stipulate that the state respects and safeguards human rights. Violation of the freedom of the person of citizens of any ethnic group is proscribed; unlawful detention or deprivation or restriction of citizens' freedom of the person by other means is prohibited. The personal dignity of citizens of all ethnic groups is inviolable, and their rights of reputation, personal name and portrait are protected by law. Insult, libel, false charge or frame-up directed against citizens by any means is prohibited. Before the founding of the People' s Republic of China in 1949, about a million people lived under the slave system in the Yi-populated areas of Sichuan and other places, and about four million people lived under the serf system in Tibet and Xishuangbanna in Yunnan. The mass of ethnic minority people in these areas were vassals of feudal lords, nobles, temples or slave owners; they had no personal freedom and could be bought and sold, or given as gifts by their owners at will. In Tibet, for example, the Thirteen-Point Law and Sixteen-Point Law formulated in the 17th century and used for more than 300 years, divided the people strictly into three classes and nine grades. According to these laws, the value of the life of a top-grade person of the upper class was measured by the weight of his body in gold, while the value of the life of the lowest-grade person of the lower class, accounting for more than 95 percent of the total population of Tibet, was as cheap as a straw rope. In order to protect the human rights of the people in these areas, the new Chinese government pushed through democratic reforms there in the 1950s, eradicating the slave and serf systems. Serfs and slaves under the old system got their personal freedom and became masters of the new society. -- All people are equal before the law. Every Chinese citizen equally enjoys the rights and equally performs the duties prescribed in the Constitution and laws; the legitimate rights and interests of every citizen are under equal protection, and any acts by any person in violation of the law must be investigated in accordance with the law, with equal application of laws. No one may have the privilege of being above the law. In order to guarantee the right of ethnic minorities to use their native spoken and written languages in legal proceedings, Article 11 of the Civil Procedure Law of the People' s Republic of China prescribes: "Citizens of all ethnic groups shall have the right to use their native spoken and written languages in civil proceedings. Where people of an ethnic minority live in a concentrated community or where a number of ethnic groups live together in one area, the people's courts shall conduct hearings and issue legal documents in the spoken and written languages commonly used by the local ethnic groups. The people's courts shall provide translations for any participant in the court proceedings who is not familiar with the spoken or written languages commonly used by the local ethnic groups." The Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, the Administrative Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China and the Organic Law of the People' s Courts of the People' s Republic of China have included similar stipulations. -- All ethnic groups participate in state affairs administration on an equal footing. In China, the ethnic-minority and Han peoples participate as equals in the management of affairs of the state and local governments at various levels. Article 34 of the Constitution states: "All citizens of the People's Republic of China who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for election, regardless of ethnicity, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education, property status, or length of residence." In addition, the laws provide other special guarantees for the rights of ethnic minorities to take part in the management of state affairs. The National People's Congress (NPC) and local people's congresses are the organs through which the Chinese people of all ethnic groups exercise state power. In accordance with the Electoral Law of the National People' s Congress and Local People' s Congresses of the People' s Republic of China, where the total population of an ethnic minority in an area is less than 15 percent of the total local population, the number of people represented by each deputy of that ethnic minority may be appropriately smaller than the number of people represented by each of other deputies to the local people' s congress, but ethnic minorities with exceptionally small populations shall each have at least one deputy. In all NPCs, the proportions of deputies of ethnic minorities among the total number of deputies have been higher than the proportions of their populations in the nation's total population in the corresponding periods. Of the 161 members of the 11th NPC Standing Committee held in March 2009, 25 were from ethnic minorities, accounting for15.53 percent of the total. -- All ethnic groups enjoy freedom of religious belief on an equal footing. Freedom of religious belief in China means that every citizen has the freedom to believe or not to believe in any religion. Article 36 of the Constitution stipulates, "Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion." The State Council promulgated the Regulations on Religious Affairs to put this constitutional principle into practice. In China, all normal religious activities, including those of ethnic minorities, are protected by law. Venues for religious activities are found all over China, basically satisfying the needs of religious believers. For example, there are over 24,300 mosques in Xinjiang and 28,000 Moslem clergymen. In Tibet, there are over 1,700 venues for Tibetan-Buddhist activities, with 46,000 monks and nuns living in temples. Traditional Buddhist activities are carried out there normally -- from sutra studies and debates to tonsure and abhisheka (consecration) and other Buddhist practices, as well as the system of academic degrees and ordination through examination. Prayer flags, Mani piles and Tibetan-Buddhist believers are seen everywhere in Tibet. Besides, the Chinese government also helps religious groups build seminaries to train clergymen of ethnic minorities, subsidizes the repairs of some religious venues in minority areas, and gives allowances to poor religious believers of ethnic minorities. -- All ethnic groups in China have the right to use and develop their own spoken and written languages. "All ethnic groups have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages" is a provision of the Constitution. In the political activities of the state, such as important meetings held by the NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), documents in Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, Kazak, Korean, Yi, Zhuang and other ethnic-minority languages are available, and language interpretation between Han Chinese and these languages is provided. Besides Han Chinese, there are also inscriptions in Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur and Zhuang on China's RMB notes. The organs of self-government in ethnic autonomous areas all use one or more languages of their areas in their official activities. Ethnic-minority languages are widely used and developed in education, press and publications, radio and TV, film, Internet, telecommunications and many other fields of social life. -- All ethnic groups have the freedom to preserve or change their own folkways and customs. It is clearly stipulated in the Constitution that all ethnic groups "have the right to preserve and reform their own folkways and customs." The state accords full respect to and effectively guarantees the practice of folkways and customs of ethnic minorities in clothing, decorations, food, drink, lifestyle, weddings, festivals, ceremonies and funerals. For example, in order to ensure that Muslims have access to their special diet, regulations on the supply and management of halal foodstuffs have been drawn up in 16 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government),including Beijing, Jiangsu and Xinjiang, as well as some major cities such as Guangzhou, Kunming and Chengdu. Other areas have also made relevant specifications in their comprehensive regulations. The rights of ethnic minorities to celebrate their own festivals are also ensured. The laws and regulations of China prescribe that people' s governments in the autonomous areas can enact their own holiday policies in accordance with the customs of the relevant ethnic minorities; ethnic minority workers can enjoy paid holidays when participating in their own major festivals and celebrations in the light of the relevant policies of the state. To prevent violations of the folkways and customs of ethnic minorities, China's laws and regulations make clear requirements for organizations and employees in the fields of press and publications, literature and art, and academic research. The Criminal Law of China has the provision of "crime of infringement upon the folkways and customs of ethnic minorities," and acts that infringe upon the folkways and customs of ethnic minorities will be investigated in accordance with the law. In view of the gap between ethnic minorities and the Han people in social and economic development, citizens of ethnic minorities enjoy not only all civil rights prescribed by the Constitution and the law, but also some special rights and interests in accordance with the law. China firmly opposes ethnic discrimination and oppression in any form. Any words or acts aimed at inciting hostility or discrimination against any ethnic group and sabotaging equality and unity among peoples are regarded as violations of the law. Any ethnic minority subjected to discrimination, oppression or insult has the right to complain to judicial institutions. China has joined the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and conscientiously performs the duties prescribed in the convention, making unremitting efforts together with the international community to build a world free from racial and ethnic discrimination.		二、坚持各民族一律平等民族平等，是中国民族政策的基石。实行民族平等是中国的宪法原则。《中华人民共和国宪法》规定：“中华人民共和国各民族一律平等。”根据这一原则精神，《中华人民共和国民族区域自治法》等法律法规对民族平等进行了具体而明确的规定。在中国，各民族一律平等包括三层含义：一是各民族不论人口多少，历史长短，居住地域大小，经济发展程度如何，语言文字、宗教信仰和风俗习惯是否相同，政治地位一律平等；二是各民族不仅在政治、法律上平等，而且在经济、文化、社会生活等所有领域平等；三是各民族公民在法律面前一律平等，享有相同的权利，承担相同的义务。经过60年的不懈努力，中国已经基本形成了一个具有中国特色的保障民族平等的法律规范体系，各民族平等权利依法得到保障。 --人身自由和人身权利不受侵犯。根据宪法和法律规定，国家尊重和保障人权。各民族公民的人身自由不受侵犯，禁止非法拘禁和以其他方法非法剥夺或者限制公民的人身自由。各民族公民人格尊严不受侵犯，其名誉权、姓名权、肖像权等受法律保护。禁止用任何方法对公民进行侮辱、诽谤和诬告陷害。新中国成立前，四川等地的彝族地区大约100万人口保留着奴隶制度，西藏、云南西双版纳等地区大约有400万人口保留着封建农奴制度。这些地区的少数民族群众大都附属于封建领主、大贵族、寺庙或奴隶主，可以被任意买卖或当作礼物赠送，没有人身自由。如，在旧西藏，形成于17世纪并沿用了300多年的法律--《十三法典》、《十六法典》，将人严格划分为三等九级。法典规定：“上等上级人”的命价为与其尸体等重的黄金，“下等下级人”的命价仅为一根草绳，而“下等人”占西藏总人口的95％以上。新中国为了保障人权，于20世纪50年代对这些地区进行了民主改革，废除了奴隶制和封建农奴制，昔日广大农奴和奴隶获得了人身自由，成为新社会的主人。 --法律面前一律平等。在中国，任何公民既一律平等地享有宪法和法律规定的权利，又一律平等地履行宪法和法律所规定的义务；公民的合法权益一律受到平等的保护，对违法行为和任何人犯罪都依法予以追究，在适用法律上一律平等，不允许任何人有超越法律的特权。为了保障少数民族使用本民族语言文字进行诉讼的权利，《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》第十一条规定：“各民族公民都有用本民族语言、文字进行民事诉讼的权利。在少数民族聚居或者多民族共同居住的地区，人民法院应当用当地民族通用的语言、文字进行审理和发布法律文书。人民法院应当对不通晓当地民族通用的语言、文字的诉讼参与人提供翻译。”《中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法》、《中华人民共和国行政诉讼法》和《中华人民共和国人民法院组织法》均作了类似的规定。 --平等地享有管理国家事务的权利。在中国，各少数民族与汉族以平等的地位参与国家事务和地方事务的管理。宪法第三十四条规定：“中华人民共和国年满十八周岁的公民，不分民族、种族、性别、职业、家庭出身、宗教信仰、教育程度、财产状况、居住期限，都有选举权和被选举权”。不仅如此，法律还为少数民族的政治参与给予了特殊保障。全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民代表大会，是中国各族人民行使国家权力的机关。《中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民代表大会选举法》规定：在同一少数民族人口不到当地总人口15％时，少数民族每一代表所代表的人口数可以适当少于当地人民代表大会每一代表所代表的人口数，人口特别少的民族至少也应有一名代表。历届全国人民代表大会中，少数民族代表人数占全国人民代表大会代表总人数的比例，均高于同期少数民族人口占全国总人口的比例。第十一届全国人民代表大会常务委员会161名委员中，有少数民族人士25名，占15．53％。 --平等地享有宗教信仰自由。在中国，宗教信仰自由，指每个公民既有信仰宗教的自由，也有不信仰宗教的自由；有信仰这种宗教的自由，也有信仰那种宗教的自由，有过去不信教而现在信教的自由，也有过去信教而现在不信教的自由。宪法第三十六条规定：“中华人民共和国公民有宗教信仰自由。任何国家机关、社会团体和个人不得强制公民信仰宗教或者不信仰宗教，不得歧视信仰宗教的公民和不信仰宗教的公民。”为了贯彻宪法原则，国务院颁布了《宗教事务条例》。在中国，少数民族信教群众的正常宗教活动都受到法律的保护，宗教活动场所分布各地，基本满足了信教群众宗教生活的需要。如，在新疆，有清真寺2．43万座，伊斯兰教教职人员2．8万多人。在西藏，有藏传佛教各类宗教活动场所1700多处，住寺僧尼4．6万多人，学经、辩经、受戒、灌顶、修行等传统宗教活动和寺庙学经考核晋升学位活动正常进行，到处都可以看到经幡、麻尼堆以及从事宗教活动的信教群众。此外，中国政府还帮助宗教团体建立宗教院校，培养少数民族宗教教职人员，并对少数民族地区部分宗教活动场所维修给予资助，对生活困难的少数民族宗教界人士给予补贴。 --享有使用和发展本民族语言文字的权利。宪法规定：“各民族都有使用和发展自己的语言文字的自由”。在国家政治生活中，全国人民代表大会、中国人民政治协商会议等重要会议，都提供蒙古、藏、维吾尔、哈萨克、朝鲜、彝、壮等民族语言文字的文件或语言翻译。中国人民币主币除使用汉字之外，还使用了蒙古、藏、维吾尔、壮四种少数民族文字。民族自治地方的自治机关在执行公务时，都使用当地通用的一种或几种文字。同时，少数民族语言文字在教育、新闻出版、广播影视、网络电信等诸多领域，都得到了广泛的应用和发展。 --享有保持或改革本民族风俗习惯的自由。宪法规定：各民族“都有保持或者改革自己的风俗习惯的自由。”对少数民族服饰、饮食、居住、婚姻、节庆、礼仪、丧葬等风俗习惯，国家给予了充分尊重和切实保障。如，为了保障一些少数民族饮食清真食品的习惯，北京、江苏、新疆等16个省（自治区、直辖市）以及广州、昆明、成都等多个中心城市，都有专门立法保障清真食品的供应和管理，其他地方在综合性的法规中也对清真食品的管理进行了规范。为了保障少数民族欢度本民族节日的权利，国家法律规定民族自治地方人民政府可以按照有关少数民族的习惯制定放假办法；少数民族职工参加本民族重大节日活动，可以按照国家有关规定放假，并照发工资。为了防止发生侵犯少数民族风俗习惯的问题，国家法律法规对新闻、出版、文艺、学术研究等有关单位和从业人员提出明确要求。刑法专门设有“非法侵犯少数民族风俗习惯罪”，对侵犯少数民族风俗习惯的违法行为依法进行追究。鉴于少数民族在经济社会发展等方面与汉族相比有一定差距，中国的少数民族公民不仅平等地享有宪法和法律规定的所有公民权利，还依法享有一些特殊的权益保障。国家坚决反对任何形式的民族歧视和压迫。在中国，任何煽动民族仇视和歧视、破坏民族平等团结的言行都是违法的。少数民族如遭受歧视、压迫或侮辱，有向司法机关控告的权利。中国加入了《消除一切形式种族歧视国际公约》，与国际社会一道，认真履行公约义务，为建立一个没有民族和种族歧视的世界进行着不懈的努力。
III. Consolidating and Developing the Great Unity of All Ethnic Groups Ethnic unity is China's fundamental principle in handling any ethnic issues as well as the core of the country's ethnic policies. Maintaining the unity of all ethnic groups is particularly significant for China as a multi-ethnic country: First, the unity of all ethnic groups is an important guarantee for the unification of the country. The realization of the unity of all ethnic groups is the prerequisite for safeguarding the unification of the country, and preventing contradictions and conflicts among ethnic groups which could split the country and bring disorder to it. Second, the unity of all ethnic groups is an important prerequisite for social stability. Only such unity can stabilize and harmonize society, bring ease to the people's lives and work, and guarantee the country's long-lasting peace and safety. Third, the unity of all ethnic groups is an important guarantee for the development of all social endeavors. Only unity can concentrate the strength of all the ethnic groups for the construction and development of the country, promote economic and social progress and improve the Chinese people's lives. The Chinese government and people attach great importance to the unity of all ethnic groups, and regard it as the supreme interest of all the Chinese people, and the fundamental guarantee for the realization of the prosperity and development of all China' s ethnic groups. For many years, all China's ethnic groups have steadfastly adhered to the concept that "the Han Chinese cannot live without the minority groups, which the minority groups cannot live without the Han Chinese, and no one minority group can live without other minority groups." In China, each citizen's fate is linked with that of the country, and each citizen is obliged to resolutely work for the unification of the country and the unity of all ethnic groups, determinedly oppose national separatism and voluntarily devote themselves to the construction of the country. The Chinese government and people firmly believe that the unity and friendship of all ethnic groups are utmost significant for the Chinese nation's vitality, strength and hope. ．．．．．．		三、巩固和发展全国各族人民的大团结民族团结，是中国处理民族问题的根本原则，也是中国民族政策的核心内容。在中国这样一个多民族国家，维护民族团结有着特别重要的意义：其一，民族团结是国家统一的重要保证。只有实现了民族团结，才能维护国家统一。没有民族团结，必然是民族矛盾、冲突不断，导致国家四分五裂、一盘散沙。其二，民族团结是社会稳定的重要前提。只有实现了民族团结，社会才能安定和谐，人民才能安居乐业，国家才能长治久安。其三，民族团结是各项社会事业发展的重要保障。各民族只有团结一心，才能聚精会神搞建设，一心一意谋发展，使经济社会取得长足进步、各族人民生活不断得到改善。中国政府和中国人民高度重视民族团结，视民族团结为全体中国人民的最高利益，是实现各民族共同繁荣发展的根本保证。多年来，中国各族人民牢固树立“汉族离不开少数民族，少数民族离不开汉族，各少数民族之间也相互离不开”的思想观念。在中国，每一个公民的命运都和国家的命运紧密连接，每一个公民都有坚决履行维护国家统一和全国各民族团结的义务，坚定自觉地反对民族分裂，坚定自觉地为建设国家贡献力量。中国政府和中国人民坚信，各民族团结友爱是中华民族的生命所在、力量所在、希望所在。在中国，民族团结包括汉族和少数民族之间的团结，各少数民族之间的团结，以及同一少数民族内部成员之间的团结。维护民族团结，就是要求在统一的祖国大家庭里，在一律平等的基础上，各民族互相尊重、互相信任、互相学习、互助合作，同呼吸、共命运、心连心，推动各民族和睦相处、和衷共济、和谐发展，不断巩固和发展平等团结互助和谐的民族关系，共同致力于社会主义现代化建设，实现国家富强、民族振兴、人民幸福。多年来，国家采取各种措施，努力消除一切不利于民族团结的因素，坚定不移地维护民族团结，努力实现各民族共同团结奋斗、共同繁荣发展。 --国家保障各少数民族的合法权利和利益。国家采取法律、经济、行政等手段，着力消除历史遗留下来的民族歧视和民族隔阂，促进各民族团结发展。国家禁止对任何民族的歧视和压迫，禁止破坏民族团结和制造民族分裂的行为。在维护民族团结的实践中，国家既反对大民族主义，主要是大汉族主义，也反对地方民族主义。中国政府多次开展全国范围的民族政策执行情况大检查，推动民族政策的全面贯彻落实。随着经济社会的发展，中国的少数民族人口流动更加频繁，城市化、散居化趋势日益明显。为保障城市和散居地区少数民族的合法权益，国家制定实施《城市民族工作条例》、《民族乡行政工作条例》等法律法规，切实加强服务与管理，重点帮助他们发展生产、改善生活，满足他们在节庆、饮食、丧葬等方面的特殊需要。 --国家坚持和完善民族区域自治制度。中国从自己的国情和实际出发，实行民族区域自治制度。民族区域自治制度把国家的集中统一与少数民族聚居地区的区域自治有机结合起来，是解决中国民族问题的一大创造。实行民族区域自治制度，对于保障少数民族当家作主，巩固和发展各民族平等团结互助和谐关系，产生了巨大作用。多年来，国家充分保证民族自治地方依法行使自治权，切实尊重和保障少数民族的合法权益。 --国家坚持把加快少数民族和民族地区经济社会发展作为解决中国民族问题的根本途径。解决民族地区的困难和问题归根结底要靠发展。多年来，国家从战略高度重视少数民族和民族地区发展，在不同时期针对少数民族和民族地区发展的实际，提出工作方针，作出战略部署，从政策、资金、人才、技术等多方面支持少数民族和民族地区发展。国家始终把提高各族人民生活水平作为一切工作的根本出发点和落脚点，千方百计加快发展，切实抓好发展这个第一要务，努力实现各民族共同繁荣发展。经过不懈努力，少数民族和民族地区人民群众的生产生活条件明显改善，思想道德素质、科学文化素质和健康水平大幅提高。 --国家不断加强民族团结的宣传教育。国家把民族团结教育纳入公民道德教育的全过程，纳入社会主义精神文明建设的全过程。坚持不懈地在各族干部群众中进行民族理论、民族政策、民族法律法规和民族知识的教育，注重增强教育的针对性和实效性。不仅教育群众，更注重教育干部；不仅教育少数民族干部，更注重教育汉族干部；不仅教育一般干部，更注重教育领导干部。国家特别重视在青少年中进行民族团结教育，要求民族团结教育进学校、进课堂、进教材，使民族大团结的优良传统代代相传。2008年国家颁行了《学校民族团结教育指导纲要（试行）》。2009年，国家将民族团结教育纳入全国小学阶段考查和中考、高考及中等职业教育毕业考试范畴。国家注重对新闻媒体、出版从业人员进行相关培训，引导、鼓励他们准确理解、积极宣传民族政策、民族法律法规和民族基本知识，又好又多地推出宣传民族团结和祖国统一的作品。同时，注意加强对出版物、广播影视作品和互联网的管理，防止出现伤害民族感情、损害民族团结的内容。 --国家积极开展民族团结进步创建和表彰活动。1988年以来，国家先后召开了四次全国民族团结进步表彰大会，共表彰56个民族的民族团结进步模范4993个，其中模范集体2474个、模范个人2519名，在全社会产生了广泛影响。各级地方政府采取“民族团结宣传教育月”等形式开展民族团结进步创建活动，制定实施民族团结进步创建表彰办法，在全社会树立典型，弘扬正气，推动形成了以维护民族团结为荣、以损害民族团结为耻的社会风尚。如新疆维吾尔自治区将每年五月、内蒙古自治区将每年九月、吉林延边朝鲜族自治州将每年九月、贵州黔东南苗族侗族自治州将每年七月定为“民族团结月”。．．．．．．
Dear visitor,you are attempting to view a subscription-based section of lawinfochina.com. If you are already a subscriber, please login to enjoy access to our databases . If you are not a subscriber, please subscribe . Should you have any questions, please contact us at: +86 (10) 8268-9699 or +86 (10) 8266-8266 (ext. 153) Mobile: +86 133-1157-0713 Fax: +86 (10) 8266-8268 database@chinalawinfo.com		您好：您现在要进入的是北大法律英文网会员专区，如您是我们英文用户可直接登录，进入会员专区查询您所需要的信息；如您还不是我们的英文用户，请注册并交纳相应费用成为我们的英文会员。如有问题请来电咨询； Tel: +86 (10) 82689699, +86 (10) 82668266 ext. 153 Mobile: +86 13311570713 Fax: +86 (10) 82668268 E-mail: database@chinalawinfo.com

【法宝引证码】北大法宝www.lawinfochina.com

Message: Please kindly comment on the present translation.

Confirmation Code:

Click image to reset code!

Translations are by lawinfochina.com, and we retain exclusive copyright over content found on our website except for content we publish as authorized by respective copyright owners or content that is publicly available from government sources.

Due to differences in language, legal systems, and culture, English translations of Chinese law are for reference purposes only. Please use the official Chinese-language versions as the final authority. lawinfochina.com and its staff will not be directly or indirectly liable for use of materials found on this website.

We welcome your comments and suggestions, which assist us in continuing to improve the quality of our materials.