Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese delegation has carefully studied the Secretary General's report (E/CN.4/2002/91) and the report of the Working Group on Minorities (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/22). We would like to commend the relevant organs for their outstanding work. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The positive significance of the Declaration has been widely acknowledged by the international community. My delegation would like to make the following observations on ways to further implement the Declaration.

1. Adherence to the principle of equality of all nationalities. There are almost 200 countries in the world and over 2,500 ethnic groups. They may differ from each other in size but not in their inherent qualities. In fact, they are all equal members of the human family and have each contributed in their own way to the development of human civilization. As such, they all deserve equal respect. Equality and mutual respect are not only the basis of dialogue and cooperation among nations but also the precondition for the promotion and protection of the rights of ethnic minorities.

2. Respect for the religious and cultural traditions and specific characters of each national minority. Such traditions are the embodiment of their specific national characters and manifestations of the diversity of civilization. They are valuable heritage and common treasure of the whole mankind.  Under waves of economic globalization, we should pay particular attention to preserving and developing the religious and cultural traditions of small and vulnerable national groups. Economic globalization should not lead to cultural monotony; rather, it should promote greater diversity of civilizations.

3. Developing the economy of the national minority regions and raising peoples' living standard. For geographical and historic reasons, those regions usually suffer from economic backwardness. All governments should adopt preferential measures to support the local efforts for economic development. Economic progress will in turn pave the way for better protection and preservation of the religious and cultural traditions of the national minorities.

4.  All countries should seek dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect as a way to exchange and share their experiences in protecting the rights of the national minorities. Various UN bodies, including our Commission, should all play a role in promoting international cooperation in this field.

Mr. Chairman,

China is a unified multi-ethnic country. Its national minorities enjoy equal civil rights as the Han majority. Moreover, they are entitled to special rights under the constitution and relevant laws. China has introduced the system of national regional autonomy in the areas where national minorities are living in compact communities. Practice over the past fifty years has testified to the success of our policies, which have been well received by all the Chinese people, including the national minorities.

It is universally recognized that Tibet is part of China. The Chinese Government's policy in Tibet has two objectives: economic development to raise the living standard of the people in Tibet, and secondly, to preserve its distinct religion, culture and ethnic characters. With the sustained help from the state, the economy in Tibet has made steady progress, leading to a substantial increase in its people's income and a drastic reduction of poverty. The cultural and religious rights of the Tibetans are well protected by the law.  The overall picture of Tibet today is that of social progress, ethnic unity, peace and tranquility. Let facts speak for themselves. Over the past five decades, Tibetan society has witnessed unprecedented progress and sea changes in its human rights situation. Those achievements cannot be diminished by lies and fabrications.

Xinjiang has been an integral part of China since ancient times. The Chinese Government has formulated many preferential policies in the interests of a full-scale economic and social development of Xinjiang. The development drive now under way in western China will bring golden opportunities to Xinjiang for its development in the 21st century. The religious freedom of all the ethnic groups there is well protected. In Xinjiang, if there is any problem at all, it is the problem caused by the activities of the Eastern Turkistan terrorist forces. Those terrorists have close ties with international terrorist organizations. They are not only causing trouble to China, but also pose a grave threat to the peace and tranquility of the region.  In combating those Eastern Turkistan terrorist forces, China is seeking to protect lives and property of all the ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including the Uighurs, and to protect religious freedom and other human rights and fundamental freedoms of those ethnic minorities.

Mr. Chairman,

China is a state party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Last July, the Chinese delegation participated in the review of its national report in the CERD and answered in all seriousness the questions raised by the Committee members. We will continue our support to the Committee's work. The disabled persons are members of a vulnerable group, whose rights need better protection from the international community. China is in favor of speeding up the effort to draft an International Convention on the Rights of the Disabled Persons, and we stand ready to take bigger strides to promote and protect the human rights of such persons along with the international community.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.