The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held its 23rd briefing on issues of major concern in Beijing on April 17, focusing on the three initiatives of extensive interactions, exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups. CPPCC National Committee Vice-Chairman Bater attended the session.

Benba Zhaxi, deputy head of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, said that in recent years, the commission has made notable progress in implementing the central leadership's instructions on enhancing the work on ethnic affairs, launching the three initiatives in coordination with relevant departments to promote youth exchanges, integrated development of people of all ethnic groups, and tourism-boosted ethnic integration.

Further efforts will be made to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and to cultivate close relations among all ethnic groups so as to contribute to the building of a community for the Chinese nation, he said.

Gao Zheng, vice-minister of culture and tourism, said his ministry has striven to implement the tourism-driven ethnic integration program by enhancing supply of quality tourism products, organizing pilot projects and themed travel routes, and launching publicity initiatives. These efforts aimed to strengthen social bonds, enhance historical awareness, create employment, and increase incomes, reinforcing recognition of the great motherland, of the Chinese nation, of Chinese culture, of the Communist Party of China, and of socialism with Chinese characteristics among all ethnic groups, according to Gao. 

The ministry will work hard on optimizing product supply, improving service quality, and ramping up promotional efforts to build the tourism sector into a key platform for advancing ethnic integration and building a common spiritual home for the Chinese nation, Gao added.

During the session, CPPCC members talked with officials from relevant departments. Key topics included promoting two-way employment and entrepreneurship among ethnic communities in eastern and western regions, maximizing the role of tourism in promoting interaction, exchanges and integration among all ethnic groups, leveraging new media to tell compelling stories about building a community for the Chinese nation, and expanding the use and accessibility of the standard spoken and written Chinese.