Chinese Writers' Association sees the light

An ethnic group writer from Yunnan province told Ye Mei, chief editor of the Beijing-based National Literature magazine, that in the past he used to conceal his ethnic identity when submitting works for publication, for fear of being looked down upon.

"But now he is proud of his ethnic identity," Ye says, at the Eighth National Congress of the Chinese Writers' Association (CWA), held from Nov 22 to Nov 25 in Beijing.

"The cultural self-awareness and confidence ethnic writers have gradually established these years is most valuable," she says. "It lays a solid foundation for the further flourishing of multiethnic literature."