Beijing to roll out new rules on Chinese language use in ethnic integration drive
Country’s top legislative body reviews draft laws aimed at further promoting national language for ‘unified national identity’
The draft “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress”, submitted to China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, is “an urgent requirement to foster a strong sense of community among the Chinese nation and advance the construction of a unified national identity”, state news agency Xinhua said on Monday.
In seven chapters covering shared cultural identity, social integration, economic development, oversight and legal responsibilities, the legislation emphasises promoting interethnic exchanges through cultural, educational and tourism initiatives.
The bill was listed in the 14th NPC Standing Committee’s five-year plan, which ends this year.
On August 29, a Politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping discussed a draft of the law where authorities stressed the need to “strengthen the common ideological and political foundation of ethnic unity, uphold the party’s leadership, and follow the correct Chinese path to solving ethnic issues”, according to Xinhua.