All the 55 ethnic minorities have deputies to the NPC, who take 13.91% of the seats, although their combined population account for less than 9% of the national total. And their development and prosperity have always been high on the agenda of the leaders of the People's Republic.

    Before 1949, central governments of different periods each had their own policies and systems in place for administering ethnic affairs. But none of them, whether set up by the Han people or by ethnic minorities, secured any measure of equality among ethnic groups, says Prof. Chen Liankai of the Central Ethnicity University.

    The founding of New China marked the beginning of a new era featuring equality, unity and mutual assistance among all ethnic groups in the country. People of ethnic minority groups have the legal right to self-government in areas where they account for more than one-third of the local population. To date, China has five provincial-level autonomous regions, 30 autonomous prefectures, 120 autonomous counties (or "banners" in areas with ethnic Mongolians living in compact communities), and more than 1,500 autonomous townships. Among China's 55 ethnic minority groups, 45 have set up autonomous areas of their own.

    Ethnic minority areas, mostly outlying with relatively difficult natural conditions, are not as developed like areas where Han Chinese are the majority. To promote their development, the central government has allowed a whole range of policy privileges to help them stand on their own while providing them with financial, technological and other assistance.

    The policy has worked. One example is Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Since 1996, the region has reported faster growths than the national average in gross domestic products (GDP),per capita disposable income for urban residents, per capita net income for farmers and herders, and local government revenue.

    Ensured by democracy, stability has ensured economic growth and social progress nationwide. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's GDP has grown at annual rate greater than 9% since 1979, reaching 13,651.5 billion yuan (8.27 yuan against the U.S. dollar) in 2004, nearly double that of 1998. China is producing enough to feed one fifth of the world's population though its arable land accounts for only 7% of the world's total.

    Thanks to increased government inputs and efforts of various social groups, China has reduced its rural population living in absolute poverty - those with a per capita income of less than 668yuan - from 250 million in 1979 to 26.1 million in 2004.

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