Proposed law aims to enhance ethnic unity and safeguard rights in China

Drafting a law on promoting ethnic unity and progress is key to fostering a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation and ensuring the lawful rights and interests of people from all ethnic groups are better safeguarded, a spokesman for the annual session of China's top legislature said on Wednesday.

Creating the law in light of the historic position of the Communist Party of China's ethnic work in the new era is a step in line with the overarching trend of the Chinese nation — a trend from history to the future, from tradition to modernity, and of unity in diversity through state legislation, Lou Qinjian, spokesman of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, said at a news conference in Beijing.

The draft of the law was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the first review in September. It was subsequently made available on the NPC's official website to solicit public suggestions and provided to all NPC deputies to collect their opinions. NPC deputies will deliberate the draft law during the legislature's annual session, which will commence on Thursday and run until March 12.

"The law will help strengthen the system for fostering a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation. It will also ensure that ethnic regions are supported in integrating with the country's overall development at a faster pace, and that ethnic unity as well as the lawful rights and interests of people from all ethnic groups are better safeguarded," Lou said. "All these efforts will further boost the cohesion and unity of the Chinese nation."

The law is coordinated and connected with other laws and regulations, such as the law on regional ethnic autonomy, and focuses on fostering a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation, further developing the community of the Chinese nation, and regulating ethnic relations nationwide, he added.

The draft law lays out the overall requirements, important principles, and responsibilities and duties of the relevant entities concerning the promotion of ethnic unity and progress. It also outlines specific measures to build a common cultural home, facilitate interaction, exchange, and integration, and promote shared prosperity and development, Lou said.