Rule of Law Safeguards Unity; Development Advances Shared Prosperity

The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which came into effect on 1 July 2026, is a basic law governing ethnic affairs and ethnic work in the new era. Rather than creating a new system from scratch, the Law builds on the solid foundation laid by the Constitution and relevant laws. It further systematises and codifies effective practices for respecting and protecting the rights and interests of all ethnic groups, turning them into clearly defined legal obligations.

Together with the Constitution and other relevant laws, the Law provides stronger and more enduring legal safeguards for the cultural traditions of all ethnic groups, citizens’ freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities. It also offers stronger law-based safeguards for the people’s sense of gain and happiness.

Strengthening the Foundation Through Legislation and Building Unity Through Protection

China is home to 56 ethnic groups. Over the course of history, they have formed a pattern of diversity in unity, becoming closely interconnected and interdependent. To safeguard equal rights and promote common development for all ethnic groups, China practices the system of regional ethnic autonomy in areas where ethnic minority groups live in concentrated communities. Today, around 68 per cent of China’s ethnic minority population lives in areas practicing regional autonomy, which account for 64 per cent of the country’s land area.

The Law makes clear that the Chinese nation is one big family composed of all ethnic groups in a pattern of diversity in unity. It stipulates that all ethnic groups in the People’s Republic of China are equal and prohibits discrimination against or oppression of any ethnic group. It calls for extensive interactions, exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups, and emphasises advancing socialist modernisation through the joint efforts of all ethnic groups. By codifying China’s successful experience in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promoting ethnic unity and progress in the new era, the Law provides solid legal safeguards for this important endeavour.

The vitality of a law lies in its implementation, and its people-cantered character is reflected in respect for the cultural traditions of all ethnic groups and for citizens’ freedom of religious belief. China’s Constitution has long established the fundamental principle that all ethnic groups are equal, while laws and regulations protecting the lawful rights and interests of ethnic minorities have been effectively implemented for many years.

Xinjiang, for example, is home to 47 ethnic groups and a number of religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity. There are more than 24,000 mosques across the region. The government has improved access to water, electricity, roads, telecommunications and other public services at religious venues. It has also funded the development of the Xinjiang Islamic Institute and its eight branches, establishing a comprehensive system for training Islamic clerical personnel.

Drawing on Public Wisdom in Lawmaking and Strengthening Bonds through Shared Stories

The legislative process itself embodied the spirit of ethnic unity. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress has established 60 grassroots legislative outreach offices across the country, including 16 in border and ethnic minority areas. From 2015 to 2026, more than 77,000 comments and suggestions were collected from people at the grassroots level.

During field research in Pu’er, Yunnan Province, two university students found that local regulations on ethnic unity were already in place. They sent a handwritten letter containing their suggestions to Beijing, some of which were eventually incorporated into the Law. In Ili, Xinjiang, more than 20 villagers discussed their experience in community volunteer services at a “Milk Tea Consultation”, and their proposals were likewise reflected in the legislation.

From China’s southwestern borderlands to the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, the voices of people from all ethnic groups have found their way into the national legislative process. This demonstrates that the Law draws on the wisdom of all ethnic groups, serves all ethnic groups and benefits all ethnic groups. 

The spirit of the Law must ultimately be reflected in daily life, and grassroots communities are where ethnic unity takes its most vivid form. For example, a subdistrict in Lhasa, Xizang, is home to more than 74,000 people from 24 ethnic groups, including Han, Zang, Hui and Yi. Families of different ethnic groups live side by side, their children attend the same schools, and neighbours exchange greetings during festivals.

In Guangzhou, a community home to more than 30 ethnic groups has for years organised activities such as writing Spring Festival couplets and making traditional food. In 2024, it was recognised as a national model group for ethnic unity and progress. Customs may vary from place to place, but scenes of different ethnic groups living together in harmony are strikingly similar. Harmony in every ordinary family is a reflection of unity across the entire country.

Promoting Development, Improving People’s Well-being and Advancing Common Prosperity

Development achievements provide the strongest evidence of ethnic unity. From 2012 to 2025, the combined GDP of the five autonomous regions of Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Xizang, Ningxia and Xinjiang increased from RMB 3.25 trillion (about USD 453.3 billion) to RMB 8.66 trillion (about USD 1.21 trillion).

Ethnic minority areas achieved a complete victory in the fight against poverty. All 420 poverty-stricken counties in ethnic autonomous areas were lifted out of poverty, and all 28 ethnic groups with relatively small populations were lifted out of poverty as a whole. Average life expectancy in Xizang rose from 35.5 years in the early years following its peaceful liberation to 72.5 years today. Xizang also took the lead in providing 15 years of publicly funded education.

In Liuguo Village, Xizang, some families once had to leave their homes and rely on begging for a living. Through poverty alleviation efforts, the village’s per capita income exceeded RMB 30,000 (about USD 4,184) in 2025, bringing about a fundamental transformation in local life.

As people’s well-being continues to improve, interaction and integration among ethnic groups have also deepened. In September 2024, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council jointly honoured 352 model groups and 368 model individuals for ethnic unity and progress. They came from different regions and professions. Among them were herders who have long guarded the country’s borders in desert areas, guides who share stories of the Chinese nation with visitors from China and abroad, and volunteer teachers who bring the seeds of unity to schools in border regions.

Meanwhile, transport infrastructure in border and ethnic minority areas has also undergone profound changes. The Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway passes through more than 30 areas inhabited by different ethnic groups and has become a major transport artery in southwest China. By the end of 2025, Guangxi’s expressway network had reached all 12 ethnic autonomous counties in the region. Better connectivity has broken down geographical barriers, made exchanges among people of different ethnic groups more convenient, brought communities closer together, and paved the way for all ethnic groups to advance toward modernisation together.

China and Bangladesh are both multiethnic countries and both uphold policies of ethnic equality and unity. China’s Constitution stipulates that all ethnic groups are equal. The Constitution of Bangladesh likewise guarantees equal rights for all citizens and provides for the protection and development of the unique local cultures and traditions of tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities.

Although the two countries have different national conditions, they share the understanding that national prosperity and stability depend on mutual respect and mutual support among all ethnic groups. China stands ready to strengthen exchanges with Bangladesh on the governance of ethnic affairs, deepen mutual understanding and contribute to the further development of bilateral relations.

Friends from Bangladesh are always welcome to visit different parts of China and see firsthand how people of all ethnic groups live together in harmony and pursue common development.
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The writer is Ambassador of China to Bangladesh