Conclusion

The practice of more than half a century has proved that the system and practice of China's regional ethnic autonomy have been immensely successful. Regional ethnic autonomy is a correct solution to the issue of ethnic groups in China, and is in keepingwith China's actual conditions and the common interests of all ethnic groups.

China is a large developing country with a population of 1.3 billion. In the process of reform, opening-up and national modernization, the state and the ethnic autonomous areas have adopted various measures to promote the economic and social development in the latter, but limited and influenced by historical, geographical and other conditions, the economic and social development level of western China, where the populations of ethnic minorities are more concentrated, is still low compared with the more developed eastern areas. Some remote areas, in particular, are still pretty backward. To build a well-off societyin an all-round way in the new century, China has to make an effort to solve such issues as adherence to and improvement of regional ethnic autonomy, giving full play to the advantages of the system, and continuously raising the economic and social development level in ethnic minority areas.

Acting in line with the actual conditions of China, the Chinesegovernment will adhere to the scientific concept of human-oriented,all-round, coordinated, sustainable development, further explore and strengthen specific forms of implementation of the system of regional ethnic autonomy, improve the supporting laws and regulations for the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, continuously strengthen the material basis for implementation of the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and promote the all-round economic and social development of ethnic minorities and their areas.

First Edition 2005

China Internet Information Center Home Page: http//www.china.org.cn

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ISBN 7-80148-691-9

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