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

(Adopted at the Second Session of the Sixth National People's Congress on May 31, 1984; amended in accordance with the Decision on Amending the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy adopted at the 20th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on February 28, 2001)

Contents

Preface

Chapter I     General Provisions

Chapter II    Establishment of Ethnic Autonomous Areas and Structure of Autonomous Organs

Chapter III   Power to Self-Govern of Autonomous Organs

Chapter IV   People's Courts and People's Procuratorates of Ethnic Autonomous Areas

Chapter V    Relations among Ethnic Groups Within an Ethnic Autonomous Area

Chapter VI   Responsibilities of State Organs at Higher Levels

Chapter VII  Supplementary Provisions

Preface

The People's Republic of China is a unified multiethnic state founded by the Chinese people of all ethnic groups. Regional ethnic autonomy is the basic policy adopted by the Communist Party of China for the solution of the ethnic issue in China through its application of Marxism-Leninism; it is a fundamental political system of the state.

Regional ethnic autonomy means that the ethnic minorities, under the unified state leadership, practice regional autonomy in areas where they live in compact communities and set up autonomous organs for the exercise of the power to self-govern. Regional ethnic autonomy embodies the state's full respect for and guarantee of the right of ethnic minorities to administer their internal affairs and its adherence to the principle of equality, unity and common prosperity for all ethnic groups.

Regional ethnic autonomy has played an enormous role in giving full play to the initiative of all ethnic groups as masters of the country, in developing among them a socialist relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance, in consolidating the unification of the country and in promoting socialist development in ethnic autonomous areas and the rest of the country. In the years to come, continued efforts shall be made to uphold and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy, so that it will play a greater role in the country's socialist modernization drive.

It has been proven by practice that adherence to regional ethnic autonomy requires that the ethnic autonomous areas be given effective guarantees for implementing state laws and policies in light of local conditions; that large numbers of cadres at various levels and specialized personnel and skilled workers of various professions and trades be trained from among ethnic minorities; that ethnic autonomous areas strive to promote local socialist development in the spirit of self-reliance and hard work and contribute to the nation's development as a whole; and that the state strive to help the ethnic autonomous areas speed up their economic and cultural development in accordance with the plans for national economic and social development. In the struggle to safeguard ethnic unity, both major ethnic group chauvinism, which mainly refers to Han chauvinism, and local ethnic chauvinism must be opposed.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, the people of various ethnic groups in ethnic autonomous areas shall, together with the people of the whole country, adhere to the people's democratic dictatorship and to the policy of reform and opening up, march along the road of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, concentrate their efforts on the socialist modernization, develop the socialist market economy, foster the development of socialist democracy and the socialist legal system, enhance socialist cultural-ethical advancement, speed up the economic and cultural development of ethnic autonomous areas, work towards their unity and prosperity and strive for the common prosperity of all ethnic groups and for the transformation of China into a prosperous, strong, democratic and culturally advanced socialist country.

The Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy is the basic law for the implementation of the system of regional ethnic autonomy prescribed in the Constitution.

Chapter I

General Provisions

Article 1   The Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy is formulated in accordance with the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

Article 2   Regional autonomy shall be practiced in areas where ethnic minorities live in compact communities.

Ethnic autonomous areas shall be classified into autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties.

All ethnic autonomous areas are inseparable parts of the People's Republic of China.

Article 3   Autonomous organs shall be established in ethnic autonomous areas as local organs of state power at a particular level.

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall follow the principle of democratic centralism.

Article 4   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall exercise the functions and powers of local state organs as specified in Chapter III Section 5 of the Constitution; at the same time, they shall exercise the power to self-govern according to the authority invested in them as prescribed by the Constitution and by this Law and other laws, and, based on local circumstances, shall implement the laws and policies of the state.

The autonomous organs of autonomous prefectures shall exercise the functions and powers of local state organs of cities divided into districts and cities with counties under their jurisdiction and, at the same time, exercise the power to self-govern.

Article 5   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas must uphold the unity of the country and guarantee that the Constitution and other laws are observed and implemented in these areas.

Article 6   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall lead the people of various ethnic groups in a concerted effort to promote socialist modernization.

On the principle of not contravening the Constitution and the laws, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall have the power to adopt special policies and flexible measures in light of local conditions to speed up the economic and cultural development of these areas.

Under the guidance of state plans and on the basis of actual conditions, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall steadily increase labor productivity and economic performance, develop productive forces and gradually raise the living standards of the people of various ethnic groups.

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall inherit and carry forward the fine traditions of ethnic cultures, build a socialist society with a cultural-ethical standard having ethnic characteristics, and steadily raise the socialist consciousness and scientific and cultural levels of the people of various ethnic groups.

Article 7   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall place the interests of the state as a whole above anything else and make efforts to fulfill the tasks assigned by state organs at higher levels.

Article 8   State organs at higher levels shall guarantee the exercise of the power to self-govern by the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas and shall, in accordance with the characteristics and needs of these areas, strive to help them speed up their socialist development.

Article 9   State organs at higher levels and the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall uphold and develop socialist relations among ethnic groups based on equality, solidarity and mutual assistance. Discrimination against and oppression of any ethnic group are prohibited; any act that undermines the unity of ethnic groups or creates divisions among them is prohibited.

Article 10   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall guarantee that all ethnic groups in these areas have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and to preserve or reform their own traditions and customs.

Article 11   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall guarantee the freedom of religious belief to citizens of various ethnic groups.

No state organ, society or individual shall coerce citizens to believe in or not to believe in any religion, nor shall they discriminate against citizens who believe in or do not believe in any religion.

The state shall protect normal religious activities.

No one shall use religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the state’s educational system.

Religious groups and religious affairs shall not be subject to control by foreign forces.

Chapter II

Establishment of Ethnic Autonomous Areas and Structure of Autonomous Organs

Article 12   Autonomous areas may be established where one or more ethnic minorities live in compact communities, in light of local conditions such as the relationship among various ethnic groups and the level of economic development, and with due consideration for historical background.

Within an ethnic autonomous area, appropriate autonomous areas or ethnic townships may be established where other ethnic minorities live in compact communities.

Some residential areas and towns of Han nationality or other ethnic groups may be included in an ethnic autonomous area in light of actual local conditions.

Article 13   With the exception of special cases, the name of an ethnic autonomous area shall be composed of the name of the locality and the name of the ethnic minority and the administrative status, in that order.

Article 14   The establishment of an ethnic autonomous area, the delineation of its boundaries and the elements of its name shall be proposed by the state organ at the next higher level jointly with the state organ in the relevant locality, after full consultation with representatives of the relevant ethnic minorities, before they are submitted for approval in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law.

Once established, no ethnic autonomous area may, without legal procedures, be abolished or merged. Once defined, no boundaries of an ethnic autonomous area may, without legal procedures, be altered. Where abolition or merger or alteration is really required, it shall be proposed by the relevant department of the state organ at the next higher level after full consultation with the autonomous organ of the ethnic autonomous area before it is submitted for approval in accordance with legal procedures.

Article 15  The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas are the people's congresses and the people's governments of autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties.

The people's governments of ethnic autonomous areas shall be responsible to and report on their work to the people's congresses at corresponding levels and to the administrative organs of the state at the next higher level. When the people's congresses at corresponding levels are not in session, the people's governments of ethnic autonomous areas shall be responsible to and report on their work to the standing committees of these people's congresses. The people's governments of all ethnic autonomous areas shall be administrative organs of the state under the unified leadership of the State Council and shall be subordinate to it.

The organization and work of the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall be specified in the autonomous regulations or separate regulations, in accordance with the Constitution and other laws.

Article 16  In a people's congress of an ethnic autonomous area, in addition to the deputies from the ethnic minority exercising regional autonomy in the administrative area, the other ethnic groups inhabiting the area are also entitled to appropriate representation.

The number and proportion of deputies to the people's congress of an ethnic autonomous area from the ethnic minority exercising regional autonomy and from the other ethnic groups shall be decided upon by the standing committee of the people's congress of a province, an autonomous region or a municipality directly under the Central Government, in accordance with the principles prescribed by law, and shall be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record.

On the standing committee of a people's congress of an autonomous area, there should be one or more citizens of the ethnic group that exercises regional autonomy in office as chairperson or vice chairperson.

Article 17   The offices of chairperson of an autonomous region, prefect of an autonomous prefecture or head of an autonomous county shall be filled by a citizen belonging to the ethnic group that exercises regional autonomy there. Other offices in the people's government of an autonomous region, an autonomous prefecture or an autonomous county shall appropriately be assumed by people of the ethnic group exercising regional autonomy and of the other ethnic minorities in the area concerned.

The people's governments of ethnic autonomous areas shall apply the system of giving overall responsibility to the chairperson of an autonomous region, the prefect of an autonomous prefecture or the head of an autonomous county, who shall direct the work of the people's governments at their respective levels.

Article 18   The cadres in the departments under the autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall appropriately be chosen from among citizens of the ethnic minority exercising regional autonomy and of the other ethnic minorities in the area.

Chapter III

Power to Self-Govern of Autonomous Organs

Article 19   The people's congresses of ethnic autonomous areas shall have the power to formulate autonomous regulations and separate regulations in accordance with the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the ethnic groups in their areas. The autonomous regulations and separate regulations of autonomous regions shall go into effect after submission to the National People's Congress Standing Committee and receipt of approval. The autonomous regulations and separate regulations of autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties shall go into effect after submission to the standing committees of the people's congresses of their provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government and receipt of approval, and shall be reported to the National People's Congress Standing Committee and the State Council to be placed on record.

Article 20   If any resolution, decision, order or instruction of a state organ at a higher level does not suit the conditions in an ethnic autonomous area, the autonomous organ of the area may either implement it with certain alterations or cease implementing it after reporting to and receiving the approval of the state organ; the said state organ shall give a reply within 60 days from the date of receipt of the report.

Article 21  In performing their duties, autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall, in accordance with the autonomous regulations of that ethnic autonomous area, use the spoken and written language or languages commonly used in that area; where several commonly used languages are used for the performance of such duties, the language of the ethnic group exercising regional autonomy may be used as the main language.

Article 22  In accordance with the needs of socialist development, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall take various measures to train large numbers of cadres at different levels and various kinds of specialized personnel, including scientists, technicians and managers, as well as skilled workers from among the local ethnic groups, giving full play to their roles, and shall pay attention to the training of cadres at various levels and specialized and technical personnel of various kinds from among the women of ethnic minorities.

When recruiting working staff, the autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall give appropriate preferential consideration to people of the ethnic minority exercising regional autonomy and of the other ethnic minorities in the area.

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas may adopt special measures to provide preferential treatment and encouragement to specialized personnel joining in the development in these areas.

Article 23  When recruiting personnel in accordance with state regulations, enterprises and public institutions in ethnic autonomous areas shall give priority to ethnic minorities and may enlist them from the population of ethnic minorities in rural and pastoral areas.

Article 24   Autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas may, in accordance with the military system of the state and local needs, and with the approval of the State Council, organize local public security units to maintain public order.

Article 25   Autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall, under the guidance of state plans, work out the guidelines, policies and plans for economic development after taking local characteristics and needs into consideration, and autonomously plan for and manage local economic development.

Article 26   Given the prerequisite of adherence to the principles of socialism, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall, in accordance with provisions of laws and in light of the characteristics of local economic development, rationally readjust the relations of production and the economic structure, and work hard to develop the socialist market economy.

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall uphold a fundamental economic system under which public ownership is the mainstay and diverse forms of ownership develop together, and encourage the development of non-public economic sectors.

Article 27  In accordance with provisions of laws, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall define the ownership of and the right to use the pastures and forests within these areas.

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall protect and develop grasslands and forests and make arrangements for and encourage the planting of trees and grass. Destruction of grasslands and forests by any organization or individual by whatever means shall be prohibited. Reclamation of land from grasslands or forests by destroying grass or trees shall be strictly prohibited.

Article 28   In accordance with provisions of laws, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall manage and protect the natural resources of these areas.

In accordance with provisions of laws and overall state plans, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas may give priority to the rational development and utilization of the natural resources that the local authorities are entitled to develop.

Article 29  Under the guidance of state plans, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall independently arrange local capital construction projects according to their financial and material resources and other specific local conditions.

Article 30   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall independently administer the local enterprises and public institutions.

Article 31  In accordance with state regulations, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas may carry out economic and trade activities with foreign countries and regions, and may, with the approval of the State Council, open foreign trade ports.

Ethnic autonomous areas adjoining foreign countries may develop border trade with the approval of the State Council.

While conducting economic and trade activities with foreign countries, the ethnic autonomous areas shall enjoy state preferential policies.

Article 32  The finance of an ethnic autonomous area constitutes a particular level of finance and is a component of state finance.

Autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall have the autonomy to manage their local finances. All revenues accruing to the ethnic autonomous areas under the state financial system shall be managed and used by the autonomous organs of these areas on their own.

Under the unified national financial system, an ethnic autonomous area shall enjoy preferential treatment by the financial department at a higher level through the standard financial transfer payment system exercised by the state.

An ethnic autonomous area shall, in accordance with state regulations, lay aside a reserve fund for expenditure in its budget. The proportion of the reserve fund in its budget shall be higher than that in the budgets of other areas.

While implementing their fiscal budget, the autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall arrange for the use of extra revenue and savings from expenditures at their own discretion.

Article 33  In accordance with the principles set by the state and in light of local conditions, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas may work out supplementary regulations and concrete procedures with regard to the standards of expenditure, the sizes of the staff and the quotas of expenditure for their respective areas. The supplementary regulations and concrete procedures worked out by autonomous regions shall be reported to the State Council for the record; those worked out by autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties shall be reported to the people's governments of the relevant provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government for approval.

Article 34   While implementing the tax laws of the state, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas may grant tax exemptions or reductions for certain items of local financial income which should be encouraged or given preferential consideration in taxation, in addition to items on which tax reduction or exemption requires a unified examination and approval by the state. The decisions of autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties on tax reduction and exemption shall be reported to the people's governments of the relevant provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government for approval.

Article 35   An ethnic autonomous area may, in light of the needs of the local economic and social development and in accordance with the stipulations of laws, set up local commercial banks and urban and rural credit cooperatives.

Article 36   In accordance with the guidelines of the state on education and with the relevant stipulations of the law, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall decide on plans for the development of education in these areas, on the establishment of various kinds of schools at different levels, and on their educational system, forms, curricula, the languages used in instruction and enrollment procedures.

Article 37   The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall independently develop education for the ethnic minorities by eliminating illiteracy, setting up various kinds of schools, spreading nine-year compulsory education, developing regular senior secondary education and secondary vocational and technical education in various forms, and developing higher education, where possible and necessary, so as to train specialized people from among all ethnic minorities. 

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall set up public primary schools and secondary schools for ethnic minorities, mainly taking the form of boarding schools and schools providing subsidies, in pastoral areas and in economically underdeveloped, sparsely populated mountain areas, which are inhabited by ethnic minorities, so as to ensure that students at school accomplish their schooling at the compulsory education stage. The expenses for running schools and for subsidies shall be handled by the local governments. If it is difficult for local governments to do so, the governments at a higher level shall give them allowances.

Schools (classes) and other institutions of education where most of the students are ethnic minorities shall, whenever possible, use textbooks in their own languages and use their languages as the media of instruction. Classes for the teaching of Chinese shall, where possible, be opened for junior or senior grades of primary schools to popularize putonghua and standard Chinese characters.

People's governments at various levels shall give financial support to the compilation and translation and publishing of teaching materials and publications in languages of ethnic minorities. 

 Article 38 The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall independently develop literature, art, the press, publishing, radio broadcasting, the film industry, television and other cultural undertakings in forms and with characteristics unique to the ethnic minorities, and increase the input in cultural undertakings, provide improved cultural facilities and speed up the development of various cultural undertakings.

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall make arrangements for the entities or departments concerned and support them in their efforts to collect, sort out, translate and publish historical and cultural books of ethnic minorities and protect the scenic spots and historical sites in their areas, their precious cultural relics and other important historical and cultural legacies, so as to inherit and develop their outstanding traditional culture.

Article 39  The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall make independent decisions on local plans for developing science and technology and spreading knowledge of science and technology.

Article 40 The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall make independent decisions on plans for developing local medical and health services and for advancing both modern medicine and the traditional medicine of the ethnic minorities.

The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall see to a more effective prevention and control of contagious and endemic diseases, provide better protection for the health of women and children, and improve medical and sanitary conditions.

Article 41  The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall independently develop sports, promote the traditional sports of the ethnic minorities and improve the physical fitness of the people of various ethnic groups.

Article 42  The autonomous organs of the ethnic autonomous areas shall strive to conduct exchanges and cooperation with other areas in education, science and technology, culture and art, public health, sports, etc.

In accordance with relevant state regulations, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous regions and autonomous prefectures may conduct exchanges with foreign countries in education, science and technology, culture and art, public health, sports, etc.

Article 43  In accordance with provisions of laws, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall work out measures for administration of the floating population.

Article 44   The policy of family planning and good prenatal, postnatal and early-life care shall be carried out in ethnic autonomous areas in order to enhance the population quality of all ethnic groups.

In accordance with provisions of laws, the autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall, in light of local conditions, work out measures for family planning.

Article 45  The autonomous organs of ethnic autonomous areas shall protect and improve the living environment and the ecological environment and shall prevent and control pollution and other public hazards, so as to bring about the coordinated development of population, resources and environment.

Chapter IV

People's Courts and People's Procuratorates of Ethnic Autonomous Areas

Article 46  The people's courts and people's procuratorates of ethnic autonomous areas shall be responsible to the people's congresses and their standing committees at corresponding levels. The people's procuratorates of ethnic autonomous areas shall also be responsible to the people's procuratorates at higher levels.

The adjudicatory work of the people's courts of ethnic autonomous areas shall be supervised by the Supreme People's Court and by people's courts at higher levels. The work of the people's procuratorates of ethnic autonomous areas shall be directed by the Supreme People's Procuratorate and by the people's procuratorates at higher levels.

Members of the leadership and of the staff of the people's court and of the people's procuratorate of an ethnic autonomous area shall include people from the ethnic minority exercising regional autonomy in that area.

Article 47  In the prosecution and trial of cases, the people's procuratorates and people's courts in ethnic autonomous areas shall use the languages commonly used in the locality, and they shall appropriately be manned with persons who are familiar with the spoken and written languages of ethnic minorities commonly used in the locality. The people's courts and people's procuratorates shall provide translation and interpretation for any party to the court proceedings who is not familiar with the spoken or written languages commonly used in the locality. Legal documents shall be prepared, in light of actual needs, in the language or languages commonly used in the locality. The right of citizens of various ethnic groups to use their own spoken and written languages in court proceedings shall be safeguarded.

Chapter V

Relations among Ethnic Groups Within an Ethnic Autonomous Area

Article 48  The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall guarantee equal rights for various ethnic groups in the area.

The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall unite the cadres and the public of various ethnic groups and give full play to their initiative in jointly developing the area.

Article 49  The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall persuade and encourage cadres of various ethnic groups to learn each other's spoken and written languages. Cadres of Han nationality should learn the spoken and written languages of the local ethnic minorities. While learning and using the spoken and written languages of their own, cadres of ethnic minorities should also learn putonghua and the standard written Chinese language commonly used throughout the country.

Awards should be given to state functionaries in ethnic autonomous areas who can skillfully use two or more spoken or written languages that are commonly used in the locality.

Article 50  The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall help other ethnic minorities living in compact communities in the area establish appropriate autonomous areas or ethnic townships.

The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall help various ethnic groups in the area develop their economy, education, science and technology, culture, and public health.

The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall give consideration to the characteristics and needs of ethnic groups living in settlements scattered over the area.

Article 51  In dealing with special issues concerning various ethnic groups within an ethnic autonomous area, autonomous organs must conduct full consultation with representatives from relevant ethnic groups and respect their opinions.

Article 52   The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall guarantee that citizens of various ethnic groups in the area enjoy the rights of citizens prescribed in the Constitution and shall inform them of duties which they should perform as citizens.

Article 53   The autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area shall promote the civic virtues of love of the motherland, for the people, for work, for science and of socialism and educate the citizens of various ethnic groups in patriotism, communism and state policies concerning ethnic minorities. The cadres and the public of various ethnic groups must be educated to trust, learn from and help one another and to respect the spoken and written languages, traditions and customs and religious beliefs of one another in a joint effort to safeguard the unification of the country and the unity of all ethnic groups.

Chapter VI

Responsibilities of State Organs at Higher Levels

Article 54   The resolutions, decisions, orders and instructions concerning ethnic autonomous areas adopted by the state organs at higher levels should suit the conditions in these areas.

Article 55  State organs at higher levels shall give assistance and guidance to ethnic autonomous areas in the research, formulation and implementation of their economic development strategy, and provide financial, monetary, material and technical assistance and skilled people to them to help accelerate the development of their economy, education, science and technology, culture, public health and sports.

The state shall formulate preferential policies to guide and encourage domestic and foreign investment in ethnic autonomous areas.

In making plans for national economic and social development, state organs at higher levels should take into consideration the characteristics and needs of ethnic autonomous areas.

Article 56  The state shall, in accordance with unified planning and market demand, give first priority to ethnic autonomous areas when making appropriate arrangements for resource development projects and infrastructure projects. The state shall appropriately increase the proportion of investment and the proportion of policy bank loans in the investment in major infrastructure projects.

 Where matching funds are required in ethnic autonomous areas for infrastructure projects arranged by the state there, the state may give them preferential treatment by reducing or exempting the matching funds, as the case may be.

The state shall help ethnic autonomous areas to speed up the development of applied science and technology and the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, vigorously spread the use of applied technology and develop new and high technology, where conditions permit, and actively guide the proper flow of talented scientists and technologists into ethnic autonomous areas. When transferred construction projects are provided to ethnic autonomous areas, the state shall, in light of local conditions, provide advanced and suitable equipment and techniques to them.

Article 57 The state shall, in light of the characteristics and needs of economic development in ethnic autonomous areas, make comprehensive use of the monetary market and the capital market to increase its monetary support for the areas. Banking institutions shall focus their support on projects of investment in fixed assets and enterprises conforming to state industrial policy in ethnic autonomous areas by meeting their reasonable need for funds in developing resources and development of different economic sectors.

The state shall encourage commercial banks to increase their credit input to ethnic autonomous areas and actively satisfy the reasonable need for funds by local enterprises. 

Article 58   State organs at higher levels shall help the enterprises in ethnic autonomous areas to make technical innovations and upgrade their industrial structure by providing support in financial, monetary and skilled personnel fields.

State organs at higher levels shall make arrangements for and encourage the managerial and technical personnel of enterprises in ethnic autonomous areas to go to the economically developed areas and learn from them, and at the same time guide and encourage the managerial and technical personnel of enterprises in the economically developed areas to work in enterprises in ethnic autonomous areas.

Article 59  The state shall set aside special funds to help ethnic autonomous areas develop their economy and culture.

The special funds and provisional grants to ethnic minorities set aside by the state shall not be deducted, withheld or misappropriated by any state organ, nor shall they be used to substitute for the normal budgetary revenues of ethnic autonomous areas.  

Article 60  In accordance with the state policy for trade with ethnic minorities and in light of the need of ethnic autonomous areas, state organs at higher levels shall support business, supply and marketing, and medical and pharmaceutical enterprises in ethnic autonomous areas in investment, finance and taxation.

Article 61  The state shall formulate preferential policies to support ethnic autonomous areas in their efforts to develop economic relations and trade with foreign countries, extend the decision-making power of the manufacturing enterprises of ethnic autonomous areas in foreign trade, encourage them to develop their local competitive products for export, and carry out the preferential policy for border trade.

Article 62  As the national economy grows and financial revenues increase, governments at higher levels shall gradually increase the financial transfer payment with regard to ethnic autonomous areas. Through general financial transfer payment, special financial transfer payment, financial transfer payment governed by preferential policies towards ethnic minorities, and through other means adopted by the state, more funds shall be put into ethnic autonomous areas, to be used for speeding up economic development and social progress in the said areas, so as to gradually narrow the gap between such areas and the economically developed areas.

Article 63   In matters of investment, finance, taxation, etc., state organs at higher levels shall support ethnic autonomous areas in their efforts to improve the production conditions of agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry as well as infrastructure such as water conservancy, transportation, energy and communications; they shall help ethnic autonomous areas in the rational use of local resources to develop local industry, town and township enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the production of goods specially needed by ethnic minorities and of their traditional handicrafts.

Article 64   State organs at higher levels shall enlist the efforts of, support and encourage the economically developed areas in pursuing economic and technological cooperation with ethnic autonomous areas and giving assistance to their counterparts there at different levels and in many-sided ways, so as to help promote the development of the economy, education, science and technology, culture, public health and sports there.

Article 65 While developing resources and undertaking construction in ethnic autonomous areas, the state shall give consideration to the interests of these areas, make arrangements favorable to the economic development there and pay proper attention to the production and the life of the ethnic minorities there. The state shall take measures to give due benefit compensation to the ethnic autonomous areas from which natural resources are transported out. 

The state shall guide and encourage enterprises in economically developed areas in investing in ethnic autonomous areas and carry out economic cooperation in various forms on the principle of reciprocity and mutual benefit.

Article 66  State organs at higher levels shall incorporate major construction projects designed to maintain ecological balance and protect the environment in an all-round way in ethnic autonomous areas into the national economic and social development plan for the benefit of overall arrangements.

Where ethnic autonomous areas contribute to the ecological balance and environmental protection of the state, the state shall give them due benefit compensation.

While developing resources and undertaking construction in ethnic autonomous areas, organizations or individuals shall take effective measures to protect and improve local living and ecological environments and to prevent and control pollution and other public hazards.

Article 67 Enterprises and public institutions affiliated to state organs at higher levels but located in ethnic autonomous areas shall give priority to local ethnic minorities when recruiting personnel in accordance with the regulations of the state.     

Enterprises and public institutions in ethnic autonomous areas shall respect the power to self-govern of local autonomous organs, observe the autonomous regulations and separate regulations as well as the local regulations and rules, and subject themselves to oversight by such organs.

Article 68  Without the consent of the autonomous organs of an ethnic autonomous area, no state organ at a higher level may change the affiliation of an enterprise under the administration of the local government.

Article 69  The state and the people's governments at higher levels shall provide greater support to the poverty-stricken areas in ethnic autonomous areas in the financial, monetary, material, technological and trained personnel fields so as to help the people living in poverty there to shake off poverty as soon as possible and to become well off.

Article 70   State organs at higher levels shall help ethnic autonomous areas train, from among local ethnic minorities, large numbers of cadres at various levels and specialized personnel and skilled workers of different professions and trades; in accordance with local needs and in various forms, the state organs shall send appropriate numbers of teachers, doctors, scientists and technicians as well as managers to work in ethnic autonomous areas and provide them with proper benefits. 

Article 71  The state shall increase its input to education in ethnic autonomous areas and take special measures to help them speed up the popularization of nine-year compulsory education and develop other educational undertakings, in order to raise the scientific and cultural levels of the people of local ethnic groups.

The state shall set up higher education institutions for ethnic minorities and, in other institutions of higher education, ethnic-minority-oriented classes and preparatory classes that exclusively or mainly enroll students from ethnic minorities.  Preferred enrollment and preferred assignment of jobs may also be introduced. In enrollment, institutions of higher education and secondary specialized schools shall appropriately set lower standards and requirements for the admission of students from ethnic minorities, and special consideration shall be given to the admission of students from ethnic minorities with thin populations. People’s governments at various levels and schools shall take various measures to help ethnic minority students from families in financial difficulties to accomplish their schooling.

The state shall set up secondary schools of ethnic minorities or ethnic-minority-oriented classes in regular secondary schools in the economically developed areas to enroll students from ethnic minorities and provide them with secondary education.

The state shall help ethnic autonomous areas to cultivate and train teachers of all ethnic groups. The state shall make arrangements for and encourage teachers and graduates of all ethnic groups who are qualified for such jobs to be engaged in educational and teaching work in ethnic autonomous areas, and shall afford them appropriate preferential treatment.

Article 72  State organs at higher levels shall intensify education among cadres and the public of various ethnic groups about the government's policies concerning ethnic minorities and frequently review the observance and implementation of these policies and relevant laws.

Chapter VII

Supplementary Provisions

Article 73  The State Council and the relevant departments under it shall, within the limits of their functions and powers, respectively formulate administrative regulations and rules, specific measures and methods for the implementation of this Law.

The people's congresses and their standing committees of autonomous regions, and of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government with autonomous prefectures or autonomous counties under them shall, in light of actual local circumstances, formulate specific methods for the implementation of this Law.  

Article 74  This Law is adopted by the National People's Congress and shall go into effect as of October 1, 1984.