More than 50 officials from
China and Australia gathered together for a seminar on the
rights of ethnic minorities on Wednesday and Thursday.
Appropriately enough, it was held in Honghe, an autonomous
prefecture of the Hani
and Yi
ethnic groups in Yunnan
Province.
The seminar was co-sponsored by the Foreign Ministry and the
Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
Participants discussed the protection of rights of minority
ethnic groups and indigenous peoples in domestic economic
development, the protection of their social and cultural
characteristics, and the role of NGOs and the private sector in
their development.
Shen Guofang, assistant foreign minister, said that the
government is trying to secure the decision-making rights of ethnic
minorities and ensure that they benefit more from the country's
economic development.
He said the government has so far managed to properly balance
development and the protection of cultures and natural resources in
ethnic minority areas.
Honghe Magistrate Bai Chengliang said Honghe Prefecture will
continue to implement the policy of regional autonomy.
The region is trying its best to respect and secure the legal
rights of ethnic minorities so as to achieve a balance with
economic growth and development, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2004)