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Officials call for ethnic solidarity ahead of Chinese new year

Xinhua, January 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Senior officials met with members of minority communities on Thursday to extend their Lunar New Year greetings and highlight solidarity among the nation's 56 ethnic groups.

A tea party was held at the Great Hall of the People for 600 representative of minority groups, which was attended by Qiangba Puncog, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and other religious and united front officials.

Qiangba, a Tibetan, said economic and social causes have rapidly progressed in minority areas in the past year and residents were feeling much more satisfied.

He called on all minorities to consolidate ethnic equity, solidarity and harmony and work toward national rejuvenation.

Also on Thursday, Lin Wenyi, senior political advisor and chair of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, celebrated new year with 200 Taiwan business and student representatives in Beijing.

Huang Zhixian, vice chair of the league -- one of the eight non-communist parties on the Chinese mainland -- asked their compatriots to help reach consensus between the mainland and the island and contribute more to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

This year's Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 8. Endi