Strengthening National Identity

It is the foundation for national unity and the spiritual force that promotes national unity and progress. In a multi-ethnic country like China, it is an important strategic task of national construction so as to continuously enhance the national identity of the people fromall ethnic groups and strive to achieve harmony between national identity and ethnic identity. In contemporary China, national identity includes the identities around the great motherland, the Chinese nation and the excellent Chinese culture.

The Chinese nation is one of the nations with the longest history in the world. In China’s long course of historical development, various ethnic groups have gradually formed a Chinese national identity. They become economically interdependent and emotionally close, and they support each other. During the Warring States Period, wars never ceased. The world was fragmented, and ordinary people lived in utter misery. After the ancient Qin Dynasty unified China, the Chinese national identity was established. In the Han Dynasty, the powerful empire had a great influence in neighboring countries, and the identity of the Chinese nation was consolidated and strengthened. From then on, Chinese national identity has always been a powerful spiritual force that maintains national unity. Especially since modern times, realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has always been the greatest dream of the Chinese people.

The Chinese people held high the great banner of the Chinese nation, and under the leadership of the Party, who served the people wholeheartedly, they overcame difficulties and challenges one after another, and achieved national independence and liberation. Since the Reform and Opening-up, the Party and the government have adhered to the national policy of national equality, national unity and common prosperity of all nationalities. The world has witnessed the continuous improvement in the lives of the people of all nationalities, the growing comprehensive strength and international status of China, and the prospects of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. National identity has been further enhanced. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, with the advancement of the strategic blueprint of “Four Comprehensives”, the national identity of the people of all ethnic groups has been remarkably improved, and the Chinese nation’s awareness of a community with a shared future has increased significantly. Now, we are closer to the great goal of national rejuvenation and more confident and capable of achieving this goal than at any time in history. However, due to multiple factors at home and abroad, the harmony between national identity and ethnic identity in China is also faced with severe challenges. In some areas, ethnic identity tends to be strengthened while national identity is relatively weakened. Therefore, under the new historical conditions, in the great journey to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and realize the “Two Centenary Goals”, we must crack down on the national separatist forces and promote the great unity of the Chinese nation.

Strengthening identfication with the great motherland. China is a unified multi-ethnic country. All ethnic groups together create the great motherland and jointly defend the unity of the motherland. Maintaining the unification of the motherland is where the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups lie. People of all ethnic groups must strengthen their national consciousness and national identity take the maintenance of the motherland’s unity and strengthening of national unity as their sacred duty, maintain the national interests and the dignity of the motherland with a clear-cut stand, and fight resolutely against any attempt to separate the motherland.

Strengthening identfication with the Chinese nation. In the history of the Chinese nation for more than five thousand years, a national spirit centering on patriotism and featuring unity and solidarity, love of peace, diligence, courage and ceaseless self-improvement has been formed. We should establish the idea that the interests of the Chinese nation are above everything else, and always put the common interests of the Chinese nation in the first place. Every nation is an integral part and a member of the big family. We share weal and woe with this big family. Only when the Chinese nation and the country is prosperous can the rights and development of all ethnic groups be guaranteed.

Strengthening identfication with the Chinese culture. Chinese culture is a concentrated expression and amalgamation of the outstanding excellent cultures of all ethnicities of China. Cultural identity is the deepest level of identity. It is the root of national unity and the soul of national harmony. Only when cultural identity is realized can other identities be achieved. People of all ethnic groups must adhere to the guidance of the advanced socialist culture, treat all ethnic cultures with an open attitude, respect differences, tolerate diversity, and appreciate each other. Socialism with Chinese characteristics, which serves as the banner of unity, advancement and victory of the Party and the Chinese people, is the fundamental direction of China’s contemporary development and progress, and the only way to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We should enhance national identity, promote national equality, national unity and the common prosperity of all nationalities, and use this common belief, common ideal, and common feeling to unite people of all nationalities, further consolidate and develop a stable and united political situation, enhance the firmness and consciousness of cherishing and maintaining national unity, and transmit the positive energy of national unity, which is the inherent requirements for realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation.