China urges better preservation efforts for ethnic minority cultures

Published:July15,2022

As lyrics of a popular folk song in China goes, “the brothers and sisters from the 56 ethnic groups belong to the same family.”

China is home to 56 ethnic groups – the majority Han makes up around 91.5 percent of the country’s population along with 55 ethnic minorities, according to 2021 data. Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been a multi-ethnic region since ancient times and, right now, it consists of over 45 ethnic groups.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, paid a visit to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning. On Wednesday morning, he watched a show called “Manas”, which is from the Kirgiz ethnic minority at the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The performances have been inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage.

A cultural heritage like “Manas” is a treasure of both the Kirgizs and the Chinese nation, President Xi said, urging better preservation and promotion efforts. 

The president added that the extensive and profound Chinese civilization is composed of outstanding cultures of various ethnic groups.

Xi urges officials to better respond to the needs of the people

While visiting the Guyuanxiang residential community in the Tianshan District on Wednesday morning, Xi urged local officials to put more effort into community-level work to better learn and respond to the needs of the people.

A lot of work must be done by relying on communities, Xi noted, adding that he attaches great importance to the work at the community level.00:59