Minister prepares to solve ethnic challenges

16:42, November 19, 2010
China faces new challenges in managing ethnic affairs posed by rapid urbanization and social transformation, as more ethnic migrant workers head to cities for a better life, a top official said.
"As society is in a period of transformation, ethnic affairs in the country are characterized by new features and problems," Minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission Yang Jing said in an interview with China Daily.
"These problems, including the management of and public service for urban ethnic groups, unbalanced development among ethnic autonomous areas and disputes caused by different customs, may bring about very negative social influences if neglected," Yang warned.
More than 12 million people from China's ethnic groups are now working in cities as migrant workers, which represents 10 percent of the total ethnic population in China, according to statistics from the commission.
Zhang Ruopu, deputy chief of the commission's regulation and policy department, earlier told Beijing-based Caijing magazine that more than 70 percent of incidents related to ethnic affairs happen in urban areas.
China has been providing financial aid and preferential policies to help ethnic people shake off poverty.
From 2001 to 2010, the central government allocated more than 310 billion yuan ($46.7 billion) to the Tibet autonomous region, or 110,000 yuan per capita, according to official statistics.
Of every 100 yuan the Tibet regional government spends, 90 yuan comes from the central government.
Yang said the total GDP of eight ethnically-concentrated autonomous regions and provinces in China reached 3.4 trillion yuan in 2009, a year-on-year rise of 13.1 percent.
Along with financial aids, the country also provides preferential policies in medical care, social insurance and education in an attempt to ease social disputes caused by the widening wealth gap.
【1】 【2】

 
Related Channel News
·Politics
1Beautiful scenery of Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve
2Hydro-power dam in Tibet stirs debate
3Yushu Green Industrial Base to take shape next year
4Tibet's export tax refund hits 20.03 mln yuan in first 3 quarters
5Visitors impressed by Thangka on Exhibition of Tibetan Cultural Week
Beautiful scenery of Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve
Tibetan mastiff sold to resturant owner for some 2.8 mln yuan
Maerkang: a marvelous must-visit place in Aba, Sichuan
Eleven lamas conferred advanced degree of Tibetan Buddhism in Beijing
Renovation project of Ramogia Monastery accepted by experts
Charming Yamzhog Yumco Lake in autumn
Nyingchi: Garden city in autumn
Private museum dedicated to old dwellings
Peaceful morning on Payang Prairie
Auspicious symbol of Tibetans•Tibet guarantees rich supply of petroleum products
•Nature reserves make up one-third of land in Tibet
•Tibet to set up warning system to ensure safe drinking water
•Tibet to grant festival allowance to low-income people
•Yushu has spent 3.62 bln yuan on reconstruction so far
•Yushu Green Industrial Base to take shape next year
•Visitors impressed by Thangka on Exhibition of Tibetan Cultural Week