Guilin, September 8th—Ambassadors and Consuls General to China from ten countries including Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, Maldives, the Philippines, Cambodia and Pakistan went to Guilin, Guangxi Province for the exchange themed on “forging a community of Chinese nation in the journey from poverty alleviation to common prosperity–vivid practice in the ethnic areas of Guangxi” at the invitation of the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC (IDCPC). Besides, they visited Xilong Village in Gaotian Town, Yangshuo County, a model village of ethnic minorities’ fight against poverty. Song Tao, Minister of the IDCPC, Xu Shaochuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Zhou Jiabin, Secretary of the CPC Guilin Municipal Committee attended the event.

Song Tao introduced the great achievements made by the Chinese people in poverty alleviation and ethnic unity since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, and focused on the spirit of the recent central conference on ethnic affairs. Song Tao also said that China has always been a unified multi-ethnic nation since ancient times. The CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to ethnic affairs since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, in particular, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core started to view ethnic issues from the strategic height of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, proposed for the first time to forge a strong sense of community for Chinese nation. The CPC Central Committee has made great efforts to eradicate poverty in ethnic areas, established pair-up assistance mechanism, give financial, technical and talent support, and solve problems of housing, drinking water, education and medical care in ethnic areas. Giving full play to the advantages of cultural and ecological resources in ethnic areas, it has explored the ways to quickly get rid of poverty and get rich for all ethnic groups, therefore comprehensively improving the living standard of people of all ethnic groups. Guangxi is home to the largest population of ethnic minorities in China. And Xilong Village serves as a local model for poverty alleviation and ethnic unity. We are convinced that this visit will provide a good opportunity for the neighboring countries to understand unity and development in China’s ethnic minority areas.

Song Tao noted, to solve ethnic issues, achieve social harmony and stability, and seek common development, it is necessary for all countries to exchange and cooperate, and oppose any interference in the internal affairs of other countries on the pretext of ethnic issues. Some countries have repeatedly invented the so-called “human rights violations”, “genocide”, “forced labor” and other pretexts to ratchet up pressure and impose sanctions on other countries, which are opposed by most countries that advocate justice and fairness. The CPC is willing to strengthen experience exchange and mutual learning with political parties in the region, resolutely safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries, provide new opportunities of China’s new development for neighboring countries, support each other in exploring development paths that suit their national conditions, join hands to promote ethnic unity in the region, and jointly promote world peace and development.

Xu Shaochuan said, in recent years, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, Guangxi has been unswervingly implementing the CPC’s ethnic philosophy and policy. Guangxi has been adhering to the people-centered philosophy, forging a strong sense of community for Chinese nation, and mobilizing the whole region to win the tough battle against poverty. As the frontier and window of China’s opening-up and cooperation with Southeast and South Asian countries, Guangxi will continue to contribute to promoting dialogues and exchanges among political parties and deepening cooperation among all sides.

Ambassadors of Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh and other countries delivered speeches and spoke highly of the great efforts made by the CPC since its 18th National Congress in promoting economic development and ethnic unity in ethnic minorities areas. They believed that China’s efforts to build the new development pattern of dual circulation, achieve high-quality development and promote common prosperity for all ethnic groups will contribute to the common development of all ethnic groups in China and bring development opportunities to neighboring countries. The ambassadors expressed firm opposition to some countries’ reckless interference in other countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of ethnic issues and human rights. They are willing to actively promote close communication between their parties and the CPC, deepen the exchange of experience in state administration, including mutual learning in ethnic policies, effectively play the role of political leadership in inter-party exchanges, promote practical cooperation in various fields between both sides, and contribute to regional peace, stability, prosperity, and  development.

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