{"id":21489,"date":"2026-08-03T07:14:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T01:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=21489"},"modified":"2026-08-03T07:14:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T01:29:55","slug":"chinas-path-of-unity-in-diversity-and-common-prosperity-why-zhang-maomings-argument-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=21489","title":{"rendered":"China\u2019s Path of Unity in Diversity and Common Prosperity: Why Zhang Maoming\u2019s Argument Matters<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n# Prem Sagar Poudel <\/strong><\/p>\n

The views presented by Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming on ethnic unity, common prosperity and modern governance in China extend far beyond an introduction to a new law. His article offers a profound civilizational and political perspective on how China is integrating its diverse ethnic groups, languages, cultures, geographical regions and historical experiences into a shared national future.<\/p>\n

The Law of the People\u2019s Republic of China on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress, which came into force on July 1, 2026, represents an important legal achievement in China\u2019s governance of ethnic affairs. It demonstrates that China regards ethnic unity not merely as a political slogan or an administrative programme, but as a long-term national policy to be protected and advanced through law.<\/p>\n

The most significant aspect of Ambassador Zhang\u2019s article is its presentation of unity and diversity as complementary rather than contradictory principles. From the Chinese perspective, preserving national unity does not require the elimination of ethnic diversity. Likewise, respecting cultural differences does not require weakening a shared national identity. This balance constitutes one of the central strengths of China\u2019s approach to ethnic affairs.<\/p>\n

A Civilizational Capacity to Transform Diversity into Unity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

China\u2019s history was not created by a single ethnic group, language or region. The modern Chinese nation emerged through centuries of migration, commerce, intermarriage, cultural exchange, political cooperation and shared struggle among different ethnic communities.<\/p>\n

The concept of the Chinese nation is therefore not based on a narrow definition of bloodline. It is a collective identity rooted in a shared history, common territory, interconnected cultures, an interdependent economy and a common commitment to the future.<\/p>\n

This is what Ambassador Zhang means when he describes Chinese history as a history of unity within diversity. Different ethnic groups have preserved their distinctive identities while contributing to the broader development of Chinese civilization. Their cultures do not stand outside Chinese culture; they are inseparable components of the Chinese civilizational tradition.<\/p>\n

This understanding rejects two extreme approaches to the building of a multiethnic nation. The first is the attempt to impose a single identity by forcibly eliminating diversity. The second is the transformation of every cultural difference into a separate political nationalism that may eventually lead the state towards fragmentation.<\/p>\n

China has instead adopted a path that seeks to protect, develop and enrich diverse identities within a shared national structure.<\/p>\n

From Emotional Solidarity to Legal Unity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When ethnic unity depends solely on emotional goodwill, it can be weakened by political changes, external interference or social inequality. China has therefore moved beyond treating unity merely as a matter of public sentiment and has connected it with legal rights, obligations, institutional responsibilities and accountability.<\/p>\n

Comprising seven chapters and 65 articles, the new law defines the roles of state institutions, public bodies, social organizations, educational institutions, religious groups, local communities and individual citizens. Ethnic unity has consequently become not the responsibility of a single ministry or administrative institution, but a shared responsibility of the entire state and society.<\/p>\n

The legal framework performs three important functions. It gives citizens greater clarity regarding their rights and duties, makes public institutions accountable and establishes clear legal boundaries against activities intended to provoke ethnic division or conflict.<\/p>\n

In this sense, the law is more protective and developmental than simply restrictive. Its purpose is not merely to impose penalties after problems arise, but to build the social, educational, economic and cultural foundations necessary to prevent such problems from emerging.<\/p>\n

Shared National Consciousness and the Role of Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No multiethnic country can remain united through law and administration alone. Citizens must develop an awareness of their shared history, common homeland, collective responsibilities and common future. China has therefore incorporated the strengthening of a sense of community for the Chinese nation into its education system.<\/p>\n

This does not mean replacing local histories, languages or cultures. Rather, it means presenting the history of each community as part of the wider history of China. Students should be able to take pride in their local and ethnic identities without regarding them as incompatible with their shared national identity.<\/p>\n

Such education can reduce the psychological division between \u201cus\u201d and \u201cthem\u201d and nurture a broader sense of \u201cwe.\u201d It can also help diminish ethnic prejudice, social distance and mistrust caused by misinformation.<\/p>\n

The concept of a \u201cshared spiritual home,\u201d highlighted by Ambassador Zhang, carries particular significance. A country is not merely a geographical boundary, a set of government institutions or the name written in a constitution. It must also be an emotional home in which citizens feel respected, protected and included. Through its ethnic policies, China seeks to strengthen precisely this shared home.<\/p>\n

Balancing the National Language and Ethnic Languages<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Language is an especially sensitive issue in multiethnic countries. Without a common national language, citizens may face difficulties in communication, education, employment and access to public administration. Yet promoting a national language at the expense of local languages and scripts can generate cultural dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s policy seeks a balance between these two requirements. Promoting the nationally common spoken and written language enables citizens of all ethnic groups to gain broader access to education, employment, technology, administration and the national market. At the same time, the study, use and development of the languages and scripts of ethnic minority groups receive legal protection.<\/p>\n

This approach represents practical equality. A common language connects citizens with nationwide opportunities, while a mother tongue preserves their history, cultural memory and sense of identity. Giving both an appropriate place, rather than treating them as competitors, reflects a mature system of governance.<\/p>\n

Common Prosperity as the Material Foundation of Ethnic Unity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Another important message in Zhang Maoming\u2019s article is that cultural respect alone cannot guarantee ethnic unity. Without equal access to economic opportunities, infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment and public services, emotional unity remains fragile.<\/p>\n

China has therefore made the high-quality development of ethnic minority regions an integral part of its national development agenda. Connecting remote areas with transportation, energy, communications, schools, hospitals, markets and modern production systems is not merely an economic programme. It is also a process of strengthening national unity.<\/p>\n

The commitment that no ethnic group should be left behind in the process of Chinese modernization makes clear that the benefits of development should not remain concentrated in a limited number of regions, social classes or communities.<\/p>\n

The strongest foundation of ethnic harmony is justice experienced in everyday life. Citizens are more likely to develop confidence in the state when they see roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, communications, employment opportunities and social security in their own communities. Common prosperity is therefore not only the economic dimension of China\u2019s ethnic policy; it is also its political and social foundation.<\/p>\n

A Mature Combination of Equality and Difference<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ambassador Zhang\u2019s observation that promoting commonality does not mean eliminating differences, while respecting differences does not mean solidifying separation, expresses a particularly profound principle.<\/p>\n

All citizens should be equal before the law. They should receive equal respect, opportunity and protection from the state. Equality, however, does not mean that everyone must share the same clothing, language, traditions, lifestyle or forms of cultural expression.<\/p>\n

Likewise, respect for difference does not mean creating permanent distance between communities, isolating them from one another or transforming cultural distinctions into political division.<\/p>\n

The Chinese approach connects equality with rights and diversity with cultural richness. It rejects separatism based on difference while respecting cultural plurality within the framework of common national interests.<\/p>\n

Sovereignty and the Question of External Interference<\/strong><\/h3>\n

World history offers many examples of external powers exploiting the internal sensitivities of multiethnic countries as instruments of geopolitical pressure. When genuine protection of ethnic rights cannot be distinguished from external political manipulation, countries may become trapped in prolonged conflict, fragmentation and instability.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s decision to take legal action against ethnic separatism, violent division and externally supported activities aimed at undermining national unity is therefore a legitimate exercise of sovereign authority.<\/p>\n

Protecting national unity and territorial integrity is a fundamental responsibility of every independent state. China simultaneously advances the protection of legitimate ethnic rights and demonstrates firm opposition to national fragmentation.<\/p>\n

A policy that respects cultural rights while refusing to tolerate violence, separatism or foreign interference conducted under their cover is a natural expression of responsible statehood.<\/p>\n

Important Lessons for Nepal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nepal and China are both multiethnic, multilingual countries with diverse geographical characteristics. Both possess ancient civilizations, local cultures, numerous languages and distinctive ways of life. China\u2019s experience should not be mechanically copied by Nepal, but it certainly deserves serious study.<\/p>\n

Nepal must also regard its ethnic and regional diversity not as a national weakness, but as a civilizational asset. The communities of the Himalayas, hills and Tarai should not be viewed as competing political entities, but as interdependent parts of a single Nepali civilization.<\/p>\n

Long-term unity is possible only when a balance is maintained among equal citizenship, a shared national identity, protection of local languages and cultures, balanced regional development and equal enforcement of the law.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s experience demonstrates that the most effective method of managing diversity is not to intensify a psychology of division, but to connect all communities with development, dignity and participation in national decision-making.<\/p>\n

The Chinese Vision of a Shared Future for Humanity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ambassador Zhang\u2019s article begins with China\u2019s internal management of ethnic affairs and ultimately reaches the broader concept of a shared future for humanity. This progression has profound meaning.<\/p>\n

Many global conflicts have arisen from ethnic arrogance, religious intolerance, claims of civilizational superiority and unequal distribution of development. China connects its domestic experience of building unity and common prosperity among different ethnic groups with a wider philosophy of international cooperation.<\/p>\n

The idea that \u201call under heaven belong to one family\u201d is not merely an abstract ideal. It provides a basis for international relations founded on sovereign equality, mutual respect, shared development, non-interference in internal affairs and the pursuit of common interests.<\/p>\n

Just as no ethnic group should be left behind in China\u2019s modernization, the Chinese vision holds that no country should be excluded from global development. This understanding is reflected in China\u2019s proposals for building a community with a shared future for humanity, Belt and Road cooperation, South\u2013South cooperation and common development.<\/p>\n

An Integrated Path of Unity, Justice and Prosperity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Zhang Maoming\u2019s article approaches ethnic unity not merely as a question of security or identity, but as an issue connected with history, culture, law, education, economic development, sovereignty and a shared future.<\/p>\n

The positive strength of the new law lies precisely in this comprehensive approach. It strengthens a shared sense of community for the Chinese nation while protecting the languages, cultures and lawful rights of different ethnic groups. It seeks to reinforce national unity while ensuring high-quality development in remote and ethnic minority regions.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, no country can be united through orders alone. Nations are held together by equitable development, mutual respect, a shared understanding of history, equality before the law and collective confidence in the future.<\/p>\n

The path presented by China does not seek to construct unity by erasing diversity. It seeks to transform diversity into a shared civilizational strength. Its principal characteristics are a common national identity instead of competing ethnic nationalisms, common prosperity instead of unequal development, and legal certainty instead of inconsistent administrative practices.<\/p>\n

The Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress is therefore not merely an achievement of China\u2019s domestic governance. It represents an important Chinese experience of how a multiethnic society can advance stability, development, cultural respect and national integrity together.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Zhang Maoming has presented this experience to Nepal and the wider world in a clear, positive and forward-looking manner. His message\u2014that diversity should become a source of shared prosperity rather than division\u2014is increasingly relevant and important in today\u2019s unstable world.<\/p>\n

About the Author: Prem Sagar Poudel is a senior journalist and international relations analyst from Nepal. He has conducted in-depth studies on Nepal-China relations, the geopolitics of the Himalayan region, and Asian security issues.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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