1. All ethnic groups participate in the administration of state affairs on an equal footing.
    The PeopleÕs Republic of China was founded by all its ethnic groups, and these ethnic groups are the masters of the great family of their motherland. The Chinese government safeguards the right of ethnic minorities to take part in administration of state affairs on an equal footing. It has made it clear that all ethnic groups can participate in administration of national and local affairs with the equal status and that the citizens of all ethnic groups have the right to vote and stand for election, regardless of ethnic status, race and religious belief. The rights of ethnic minorities are fully respected in the elections of organs of China’s state power - the National People’s Congress and local peopleÕs congresses. According to the Electoral Law of the National People’s Congress and Local People’s Congresses, “The number of ethnic minority deputies to the National People’s Congress shall be allocated to the people’s congresses of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in accordance with the population of the ethnic minority and its distribution. Each ethnic minority shall have at least one deputy.” The law also stipulates, “With the approval of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the number of deputies in autonomous regions and in provinces that have many areas where ethnic minorities live in concentrated communities can be increased by five percent. With the approval of the standing committees of the people’s congresses of provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, the number of deputies in counties, autonomous counties, townships and ethnic minority townships where many ethnic minorities live in concentrated or scattered communities can be increased by five percent.” This makes it possible for each of the ethnic minorities to have its deputies and efficiently participate in administration of national and local affairs. The government also has concrete regulations concerning the number of members of the national and local committees of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference to ensure that all ethnic minorities have their representatives on these committees for participating in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. In addition, by training and using large numbers of ethnic minority cadres, the government encourages ethnic minorities to take an extensive part in the specific administration of national and local affairs.
    2. All ethnic groups enjoy equal rights in social activities.
    In addition to enjoying the equal political right to be the masters of their nation, all ethnic groups should have related equal rights in other social activities. The Constitution and other relevant laws stipulate that the freedom of the person and personal dignity of citizens of all ethnic groups are inviolable; that citizens of all ethnic groups enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration; that citizens of all ethnic groups have the right to receive education; to conduct scientific research,create literature and art,paticipate in cultural activities to work, rest and receive material assistance from government offices and from non-government sources; and to criticize and put forward suggestions to government offices and government functionaries; and that citizens of all ethnic groups have the freedom to preserve or develop their own folkways and customs. And so on and so forth. All these provisions are effectively implemented in actual life with notable achievements.
    3. Discrimination against and oppression of ethnic minorities in any form are opposed and eliminated.
    In order to better safeguard and implement the equal rights of ethnic minorities, the government has enacted numerous laws, statutes and administrative rules and regulations. As it did in the past, the government works hard to eliminate the existing discrimination against and oppression of ethnic minorities. For example, the Government Administrative Council of the Central PeopleÕs Government issued in 1951 the Directives on of Dealing with the Appellations, Place Names, Steles and Inscribed Boards Discriminating Against or Humiliating Ethnic Minorities, explicitly emphasizing that all appellations, place names, steles and inscribed boards found to be discriminating against or humiliating ethnic minorities would be banned, altered, sealed up or placed under government control. Over the past few years, many laws, administrative statutes, rules and regulations were promulgated, containing specific stipulations on opposing and eliminating ethnic discrimination and oppression in different areas. These included the Organic Law of the People’s Court, the Civil Procedure Law, the Criminal Procedure Law, the Criminal Law, the Military Service Law, the Labor Law, the Procession and Demonstration Law, the Law on Trade Unions, the Trademark Law, the Advertising Law, the Organic Law of Urban Residents’ Committees, the Law on the Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests as well the Regulations on the Management of Place Names, the Regulations on the Management of Administrative Divisions, and the Regulations on the Official Seals of Administrative Authorities, Enterprises and Institutions that were formulated by the State Council.
    In addition, the Chinese government joined the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Working with the international community, the Chinese government has made unremitting efforts to bring about ethnic equality all over the world and won widespread recognition of its achievements.
    4. Support is given to ethnic minorities to bring about equal rights.
    While safeguarding equal rights for ethnic minorities according to law, the Chinese government has formulated a series of special preferential policies and concrete measures for underdeveloped ethnic minorities with a small population. It is doing its best to help them achieve equal rights mainly by increasing investment of financial, material and human resources, accelerating their economic and cultural development and improving their living standards and educational level. Efforts are being made to narrow the gap between them and developed ethnic groups as soon as possible and to constantly promote development and prosperity among all ethnic groups.
    5.All ethnic groups must perform their related obligations.
    All rights and obligations go hand in hand. While fully enjoying ethnic equal rights, ethnic minorities must perform the obligations provided for them in state laws. The main obligations are: to love the motherland, safeguard national unification, oppose all words and acts designed to harm ethnic unity and split the motherland. Implementing these obligations is an important prerequisite for every citizen to enjoy equal rights according to law. Refusal to implement these obligations constitutes an illegal action that must be prosecuted.
About the author:
Song Quan
    Mongolian, with a master degree of ethnic policy and ethnic work management, now works as assistant researcher in the Policy Office of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Policy toward ethnic group, specializing in the study of policy and theory on ethnic group and ethnic group problems. He published more than 30 academic essays.