China awards excellence in ethnic unity

BEIJING -- The State Council, China's cabinet, will award exemplary institutions and individuals for excellence in promoting ethnic unity and progress among ethnic groups, said a statement issued by the State Council Friday.

A total of 665 groups and 812 individuals will be honored for their efforts in "implementing the Party's theories and policies concerning ethnic groups and greatly contributing to the country's cause for ethnic unity and progress," according to the statement.

They are encouraged to uphold the unity of the Chinese nation and lead and encourage people of all ethnic groups to strive and prosper in unity, it said, asking people of all ethnic groups to follow their examples and take safeguarding ethnic unity and national reunification as the supreme interest of their respective groups.