Official urges development of ethnic literature

BEIJING - A senior Chinese official on Thursday urged the development of ethnic literature in order to build a common spiritual home for China's people.

Ethnic literature is a special part of Chinese literature and an important part of China's socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, said Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a gathering attended by delegates of the fifth National Conference on the Development of Ethnic Literature.

China is a nation with many ethnic groups who have developed their own cultures, according to the official, who is a member of both the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. Liu spoke highly of the role played by minority literature in the development of Chinese civilization.

Liu urged people from all circles to support the development of ethnic literature, as well as pledged greater government support for the sector. The China Writers Association (CWA) should play a role in promoting the development of ethnic literature, as well as cultivate more writers, he said.