Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities

The “Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities” was adopted at the Second Session of the Sixth National People's Congress on May 31, 1984 and amended in accordance with the “Decision on Amending the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities” at the 20th Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on February 28, 2001. “The Law on Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities” is the basic law for the implementation of the system of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities stipulated in the Constitution, which consists of seven chapters and 74 articles. Included in the Selection and Compilation of Important Documents since the 15th National Congress (Vol. 2).

The “Law on Regional Autonomy” stipulates that China is a unitary multinational state, and regional autonomy for ethnic minorities is the basic policy adopted by the Communist Party of China for the solution of the national question in China through its application of Marxism-Leninism and a basic political system of the country.

The “Law on Regional Autonomy” stipulates that the minority nationalities, under unified State leadership, practice regional autonomy in regions where they live in concentrated communities and set up organs of self-government for the exercise of the power of autonomy. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism­Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, the people of various nationalities in the autonomous regions shall, together with the people of the whole country, adhere to the people's democratic dictatorship and to the policy of reform and opening to the outside world, march along the road of constructing socialism with Chinese characteristics, concentrate their efforts on the socialist modernization drive, develop the socialist market economy, foster the development of socialist democracy and the socialist legal system, enhance socialist cultural and ideological progress, speed up the economic and cultural development of the national autonomous regions, work towards their unity and prosperity and strive for the common prosperity of all the nationalities and for the transformation of China into a prosperous, powerful, democratic and culturally advanced socialist country.

People's congresses and people's governments of autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties and other organs of self-government are established in each autonomous region to exercise the right of self-government in accordance with the Constitution and the regional autonomy law and other laws. The organs of self-government of national autonomous regions shall lead the people of the various nationalities in a concentrated effort to promote socialist modernization. On the principle of not contravening the Constitution and the laws, the organs of self­government of national autonomous regions shall have the power to adopt special policies and flexible measures in the light of local conditions to speed up the economic and cultural development of these areas. The organs of self­government of national autonomous regions must uphold the unity of the country and guarantee that the Constitution and other laws are observed and implemented in these areas. The organs of self-government in national autonomous regions shall guarantee equal rights for various nationalities in the area, educate cadres and the masses so that all national groups to trust each other, learn from each other, help each other, respect each other, and jointly safeguard the unity of the country and the unity of all the nationalities. The resolutions, decisions, orders and instructions concerning national autonomous regions adopted by the State organs at higher levels should suit the conditions in these areas. The State Council and the relevant departments under it shall, within the limits of their functions and powers, respectively formulate administrative rules and regulations, specific measures and methods for the implementation of this Law.

The implementation of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities has played a great role in bringing into play the initiative of the people of all nationalities to master the country, guaranteed developing socialist ethnic relations of equality, solidarity and mutual assistance, consolidated the unity of the country, and promoted the development of national autonomous regions and the cause of socialist construction throughout the country. In the future, continuing to adhere to and improve this basic political system will play a greater role in consolidating and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and achieving.

The implementation of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities has played a great role in giving full play to the enthusiasm of people of all nationalities to be masters of their own country, developing socialist ethnic relations of equality, unity and mutual assistance, consolidating the unity of the country and promoting the development of socialist construction in the national autonomous regions and the rest of the country. In the years to come, continued efforts to uphold and improve this basic political system will play an even greater role in consolidating and developing the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and achieving the ambitious “Two Centenary Goals”.