Photo: A screnshot of the website of the Chinese Mission to the EU

China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition and has lodged solemn representations with the EU side as the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday disregards facts and the rule of law, maliciously smears China's laws and ethnic policies, and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, a spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU said Friday. 

China is a unified multi-ethnic country, and all ethnic groups maintain a relationship featuring equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony. The Chinese government protects the lawful rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups in accordance with the law. The rights of people of all ethnic groups in political, economic, cultural and social fields are fully guaranteed, the spokesperson in a statement released on its website. 

On March 12, at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature adopted a law to promote ethnic unity and progress, reinforcing the legal foundation for national cohesion and common prosperity among 56 ethnic groups as the country enters the final decade in its drive to basically achieve modernization by 2035, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The law will take effect on July 1, 2026, according to Xinhua.

On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the law and China's ethnic policies.

China urges the European Parliament to uphold conscience and respect facts, immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights, stop endorsing and supporting anti-China separatist forces, stop smearing China's policies and laws, and take concrete steps to safeguard the sound and steady development of China-EU relations, the spokesperson said in the Friday statement. 

Global Times