Updated on
Summary
Chinese President Hu Jintao called for officials from the dominant Han community to work harder to understand ethnic minorities. Hu's remark comes two days before China's massive parade, as the country's capital is gearing up to tighten its security after violence erupted by ethnic groups for two consecutive years. China recognises 56 ethnic groups, from Muslim Uighurs and Buddhist Tibetans to the shamanistic Oroqen, but a vast majority of the population are Han Chinese, who also generally hold the most senior positions of power in minority areas. Some of these groups, especially in Tibet and the far western region of Xinjiang, complain their culture, language and religion have been marginalised, which has led to protests. Around 200 people died in inter-ethnic violence in Xinjiang in July which mostly comprised of Muslims.
