国内英语新闻:Senior Party official on development of ethnic culture

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- China's ethnic culture is an important component of the Chinese culture, has made enormous contribution to the formation and development of the Chinese Nationality, and has been a valuable spiritual treasure shared by the Chinese Nationality.

    This was remarked by Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, at a national work conference on ethnic culture, which opened here Friday.

Li Changchun (L, front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with the delegates of a national work conference on ethnic culture, in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2009.

In a meeting with the delegates prior to the opening of the conference, Li called for deepening the study and practice of a scientific view of development, as well as efforts to open up a new situation for the undertakings of the country's ethnic culture.

    The official hailed the enormous achievements China has made in the undertaking of ethnic culture since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 and particularly since the country took to the Reform and Opening-up Policy in 1978. The undertakings of China's ethnic culture is now at a new historic starting point, he said.

    The country will step up the building of infrastructure for public cultural facilities in minority areas, by well implementing a series of cultural projects funded by central finance. He pledged to send the voices of the Party Central Committee and the State Council to millions of homes of the minority people, so as to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of ethnic groups.

    Great efforts will be made to promote international exchanges of the ethnic culture, so as to increase the competitiveness and impacts of the Chinese culture, Li said.

    He called for further strengthening and improving the Party leadership on the work of ethnic culture and making efforts to build up a massive and high-quality group of ethnic cultural workers.

    Also present at the meeting were three members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, including Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, CPC Central Committee Secretariat Member Liu Yunshan, and State Councilor Liu Yandong.

    The conference, the first of its kind in the country, was attended by provincial officials from across the country in charge of the matter, as well as officials from some central departments concerning ethnic affairs, culture, media and cultural heritage.