China's top political advisory body -- the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee -- has stepped up efforts over the past year to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation comprising 56 ethnic groups, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Liu Jieyi, spokesman for the fourth annual session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, made the statement at a press conference in Beijing held one day before the session opens.
"Over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee has thoroughly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thinking on strengthening and improving ethnic work. We've adhered to the main line of ethnic work, and fulfilled our responsibilities by offering suggestions and making efforts for the community building of the Chinese nation," Liu said.
In the past year, the CPPCC National Committee studied key issues on building a community of the Chinese nation and proposed strengthening historical and theoretical research to this effect, along with the adoption of measures to improve the relevant institutions, mechanisms and legal frameworks, Liu said, adding that competent departments had indicated these suggestions would be incorporated into the 15th Five-Year Plan for national socioeconomic development in the 2026-2030 period.
The CPPCC National Committee has also published articles on strengthening institutions and mechanisms to forge a strong sense of national community, which, Liu said, provides academic and systematic elaboration and development of the Chinese Communist Party's ethnic theory in the new era.
"The CPPCC National Committee has carried out investigation and research on multiple issues worthy attention for socioeconomic development in ethnic minority areas during the 15th Five-year Plan period, and offered proposals on developing industries with distinctive advantages and coordinating economic growth with environmental protection, so as to help ethnic minority regions better integrate into the new development paradigm," Liu said.
The CPPCC National Committee has also held consultations on topics such as using cultural and museum initiatives to strengthen the sense of national community, Liu said.
"All 56 ethnic groups in China are represented by CPPCC National Committee members, and we have fully leveraged this advantage by actively organizing CPPCC member events to promote interaction, exchange and integration among ethnic groups. These activities have combined inspections, field visits, research, and face-to-face discussions with community-level officials and ordinary people to explain the Chinese Communist Party's ethnic policies. By doing so, we hope to develop a stronger sense of the Chinese nation as one community, and deepen the shared understanding that all ethnic groups are linked by blood ties, common beliefs, cultural connections, economic interdependence and emotional closeness," he said.
In 2026, the CPPCC National Committee will continue in-depth research on major issues in ethnic affairs and actively rally supports to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, said the spokesman.
China's top political advisory body steps up efforts to forge strong sense of community for nation: spokesman
