Religious freedom, ethnic unity highlighted

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has underlined the importance of fully implementing the Party's theories and policies concerning ethnic groups in order to further promote equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony among all of them.

Xi, who is also China's president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark on Tuesday during his two-day inspection tour of Chengde in Hebei province.

While visiting an exhibition about ethnic groups in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) at the Chengde Museum, Xi learned about the development of ethnic groups in the country as well as the measures to promote ethnic solidarity, border stability and national unification at that time.

Noting that China is a unified multiethnic country, Xi said that thanks to consistent efforts by the entire Party and the nation, China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, with ethnic minority groups included in the process.

Practice has proved that only the CPC can make it possible to realize the great ethnic unity in the country, and only socialism with Chinese characteristics can help unite, develop and provide prosperity to all ethnic groups, he said.

When visiting the Puning Temple, a Buddhist temple complex in Chengde, Xi stressed the Party's policy of religious freedom and called for creating a sound environment for the development of all religions.

Xi also inspected the Chengde Mountain Resort, a large complex of imperial palaces and gardens that was awarded World Heritage Site status in 1994. He highlighted the historic significance of the site's heritage and underlined the need to protect, inherit and take advantage of the nation's fine traditional culture to inspire the people by boosting cultural confidence.

While visiting a local village, Xi inspected its residents' efforts to promote rural vitalization. He stressed the need to develop industries based on local resources to benefit more farmers, strengthen infrastructure and public services in the countryside, and he urged local governments to fix weaknesses in public health services in rural areas.

During the inspection, Xi also urged efforts to fully, faithfully and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, take solid steps to prevent and control the pandemic, promote socioeconomic development and coordinate development and security to advance high-quality growth.

On Monday, he visited the Saihanba forest farm, where he called for progress in boosting green development and ecological conservation.

He also inspected locals' efforts in the preservation and development of cultural heritage, as well as in religious affairs, ethnic unity, rural vitalization and eldercare services.