In 2012, the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its 18th National Congress, and Zhejiang has since adhered to the directives of the central government on ethnic work, striving to accelerate the development of ethnic minority areas. For many years, Zhejiang has persisted in accelerating the development of ethnic regions and promoting the integration of ethnic regions into the new development pattern. Today, all ethnic groups in the province are united as one in their efforts towards common prosperity and development.

Government's commitment to ethnic regions and people

In 2002, Xi Jinping was transferred to work in Zhejiang after having worked in Fujian for 17 years. He inspected Jingning She Autonomous County twice, China's sole autonomous county of the She ethnic group, encouraging the local government to "keep up with the times." After working in the central government, President Xi still cared about Jingning and has since made important instructions for its local development, encouraging it to "walk at the forefront of national ethnic autonomous counties" and "not seek easy goals," providing guidance that set the direction for Jingning's ethnic work in the new era.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Zhejiang provincial government has implemented three rounds of policies to assist Jingning in accelerating its development. In 2022, the provincial government conducted a special study on Jingning's high-quality development. The Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission led research, dissecting challenges and forming an implementation plan for supporting Jingning County in achieving high-quality development and common prosperity in mountainous areas. Jingning was included in the second batch of pilot projects for high-quality development and common prosperity demonstration zones in Zhejiang Province in 2022.

In 1984, Jingning had a total gross domestic product (GDP) of only 51.93 million yuan. By 2023, however, its GDP had shot up to 10.28 billion yuan, a historic milestone and a 25.7-fold increase since 1984.

In the tea garden of Xifan Village, Tanhong Township, Wuyi County, east China's Zhejiang Province, girls of the She ethnic group, dressed in traditional ethnic costumes, are picking tea leaves.

On April 10, 2024, Jingning She Autonomous County celebrated its 40th founding anniversary. On June 25, President Xi replied to the people of Jingning, expressing warm congratulations on the county's 40th founding anniversary. He encouraged Jingning to continue to uphold fine traditions, strengthen ethnic unity, and leverage its unique advantages to usher in a new chapter of development.

"President Xi's reply provides clear guidance and firm direction for our future work," said Bao Xiuying, director of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission of Zhejiang Province.