On August 14, Ambassador Li Ming published a signed article titled Pooling Strength Through Unity, Sharing Prosperous Development — Understanding the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress in Politika, Serbia’s largest newspaper. The article elaborates on the legislative philosophy and practical significance of the Promotion Law, namely upholding law-based governance of ethnic affairs, promoting common development and prosperity for all ethnic groups, and forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. It states that China stands ready to strengthen exchanges on experience in state governance with Serbia. Based on mutual respect and mutual learning, both sides can jointly explore paths to advance ethnic harmony, social solidarity and common development, and contribute wisdom and strength to global governance of ethnic affairs. Full text as follows:

Both China and Serbia are multi-ethnic countries with time-honored civilizations. In national development and modernization, both have been exploring approaches to ethnic-affairs governance suited to their respective national conditions. How to build consensus and pursue development on the basis of respecting diversity is not only an important issue for China and Serbia, but also a proposition of our era for many countries across the world.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has clearly identified forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the overarching guideline for the Party’s ethnic-related work and all undertakings in ethnic regions in the new era. In July this year, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress officially entered into force. As a fundamental and comprehensive law in China’s ethnic work, it is of great significance for people of all ethnic groups across the country to advance the great cause of building a great modern socialist country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. It also offers Chinese wisdom and solutions for other countries handling ethnic affairs. Here I would like to share three observations on this law with Serbian friends:

First, the law embodies the modern rule‑of‑law concept of law‑based governance of ethnic affairs. The Promotion Law fully implements the principles and spirit enshrined in the Constitution concerning ethnic equality, ethnic unity and regional ethnic autonomy. It elevates theories and practical experience of China’s ethnic work in the new era into legal norms, providing long‑term institutional safeguards for building the community for the Chinese nation. Extensive public consultations were conducted throughout the legislative process: more than 380 institutions and nearly 50,000 people submitted opinions and proposals. The draft law was translated into seven ethnic minority languages, and over 400 ethnic‑minority deputies to the National People’s Congress took part in deliberations. The law therefore reflects both the will of the state and the aspirations of the people, builds consensus and pools wisdom to the maximum extent, and fully puts into practice the important concept of whole‑process people’s democracy.

Second, the law reflects the human-rights-oriented vision of common development and prosperity for all ethnic groups. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “In advancing Chinese modernization and pursuing common prosperity, no ethnic group should be left behind.” Ethnic equality means not only equal political rights, but also equal access to development opportunities and shared development gains. Centered on fostering common prosperity, the Promotion Law supports ethnic regions in deepening reform and opening-up in an all-round way, fully integrating into national development strategies and enhancing self-development capacity, thus delivering solid institutional guarantees for advancing toward socialist modernization together. From 2012 to 2025, the GDP of China’s five autonomous regions rose from about USD 515 billion to around USD 1.21 trillion. All 420 poverty-stricken counties in ethnic autonomous areas nationwide, including 31.21 million poor people in the five autonomous regions as well as Guizhou, Yunnan and Qinghai provinces, have been lifted out of poverty as scheduled.

Third, the law is designed to consolidate the community for the Chinese nation and rally formidable strength for united endeavors. China is a unified multi‑ethnic country. As early as the Qin‑Han dynasties (221 BCE - 220 CE), it fostered the age‑old tradition of great national unification captured in the ancient adage: All corners of the land share common value, with governance prevailing across the mainland. Over long‑term interactions and integration among all ethnic peoples, Chinese civilization has taken on the feature of unity, laying the spiritual foundation for ethnic unity. The Promotion Law aims to safeguard and develop socialist ethnic relations featuring equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony. It encourages people of all ethnic groups to work with one heart and one mind, pooling stronger and mighty forces to uphold national unity and ethnic solidarity.

Globally speaking, governance of ethnic affairs poses a universal governance challenge. Some countries pursue forced assimilation policies, ignoring or even suppressing the cultures and rights of ethnic minorities; some allow ethnic separatist forces to grow, triggering national fragmentation and social unrest; some adopt a divide-and-rule strategy that exacerbates ethnic contradictions and confrontation. Such approaches have failed to resolve ethnic issues and have instead given rise to more social crises. In sharp contrast, proceeding from its national realities, China advances the building of the community for the Chinese nation and has fostered a sound landscape where all ethnic groups strive together for common prosperity and development.

Commonality does not presuppose uniformity; unity does not come at the cost of eliminating diversity. The Promotion Law stipulates clearly: “The state adheres to enhancing commonalities while respecting and accommodating diversity, and promotes people of all ethnic groups to help each other and live in harmony.” China supports the preservation and inheritance of fine traditional cultures of ethnic minorities. It has invested substantial funds to conserve cultural heritage sites including the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka. Ancient classics such as Qutadghu Bilik and Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk have been compiled and published in Chinese and Uyghur, and more than 3,000 precious cultural relics have been rescued and restored. Over one-third of Chinese inscriptions on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity relate to ethnic-minority cultures. The community for the Chinese nation does not seek rigid uniformity. Instead, it respects and embraces cultural diversities and pursues the greatest common divisor through exchanges and integration.

Not long ago, I visited Novi Pazar in south-western Serbia. In this distinctive town as a convergence of diverse civilizations, I witnessed residents of different ethnic groups living in harmony and mutual respect, with traditional culture blending naturally with modern life, and agriculture, animal husbandry, trade and other sectors thriving. This gave me first-hand insight into the dynamism, openness and inclusiveness of Serbia’s multi-ethnic society. In recent years, under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia has achieved rapid economic growth and notable improvements in people’s livelihoods. Different ethnic groups share development gains and strengthen mutual recognition, while diverse religions blossom in the garden of civilizations. My conversations with local friends made me realize that people are mostly concerned with simple, concrete matters: education, employment, healthcare and development. Their aspirations resonate deeply with people living in China’s ethnic regions. These wishes transcend ethnicity, religion and national boundaries, and underpin mutual understanding, coexistence and joint endeavors among different ethnic groups.

The modern world hosts more than 200 countries and regions, over 2,500 ethnic groups and multiple religions. China consistently advocates mutual learning and common progress among different countries, ethnic groups and civilizations to foster harmonious global ethnic relations. As partners for a community with a shared future, China and Serbia may continue to strengthen exchanges on experience in state governance. Based on mutual respect and mutual learning, we can jointly explore paths toward ethnic harmony, social solidarity and shared development. We will contribute wisdom and strength for humanity to better address the shared challenge of ethnic-affairs governance, build bridges for friendship among peoples, add impetus to human progress, and consolidate bonds for world peace.