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 China is a unified nation consisting of many different
ethnic groups. Fifty-six different ethnic groups make up the great
Chinese national family. Because the Han people accounts for more than ninety
percent of China's population, the remaining fifty-five groups are generally
referred to as "ethnic minorities." Next to the majority Han, the Mongolian,
Hui, Tibetan, and Uygur peoples comprise the largest ethnic groups. Although
China's ethnic minorities do not account for a large portion of the population,
they are distributed over a vast area, residing in every corner of China.
 Particularly since the implementation of China's opening and
reform policy, the central government has increased investment in minority areas
and accelerated their opening to the outside world. This has resulted in an
upsurge of economic development in these areas. Each of China's ethnic minority
groups possesses a distinctive culture. The Chinese government respects minority
customs, and works to preserve, study, and collate the cultural artifacts of
China's ethnic minority groups. The government vigorously supports the
development of minority culture and the training of minority cultural workers,
and fosters the development of traditional minority medicine.
 The
relation among China's ethnic groups can be described as "overall
integration, local concentration, mutual interaction." Concentrations of
ethnic minorities reside within predominantly Han areas, and the Han people also
reside in minority areas, indicating that there has been extensive exchanges
among China's ethnic groups since ancient times. With the development of the
market economy, interaction among ethnic groups has become even more active in
the areas of government, economics, culture, daily life, and marriage. Linked by
interdependence, mutual assistance, and joint development, their common goals
and interests creating a deep sense of solidarity, China's ethnic groups
resemble a great national family, together building Chinese
civilization.
From China -- Past and
Present
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