President Xi Jinping meets with 13 outstanding grassroots ethnic solidarity representatives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (Photo : www.news.xinhuanet.com)
President Xi Jinping invited 13 outstanding grassroots representatives from the five autonomous regions of China to join him in commemorating the National Day celebrations on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, recognizing the groups’ contribution to ethnic unity, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The representatives came from Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Guangxi, Ningxia and Xinjiang, where the majority of the nation's ethnic groups live, accounting for nearly one-tenth of the total population.
Xi acknowledged the representatives' efforts and devotion to preserve ethnic solidarity. "I wish to take this opportunity to convey to you, your fellow folks and all the 56 ethnic groups, my best wishes and festival greetings," Xi said.
The president added that the People's Republic of China is made up of people of various ethnic groups who all made outstanding contributions to the nation's development.
"I have stressed many times that not a single ethnic group should be left behind in the process of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society," Xi remarked.
The Chinese leader called on people from all ethnic groups to show their love for each other, like brothers and sisters, share and exchange and strive hard to protect their unity.
According to the report, the Enwaer sisters, two representatives from Xinjiang, gave President Xi a gift, an embroidery inscribed with words "striving for the Chinese dream with one heart," which they created for two months.
"We've never expected to be invited here to celebrate National Day. It's the greatest honor of my life," one of the sisters said.
