China Prepares First Publicity Week for New Ethnic Unity Promotion Law

China will hold its inaugural national publicity week from September 21 to 27, 2026, to promote the newly enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress. The legislation, adopted by the 14th National People's Congress in March 2026 and enacted on July 1, serves as the country's first specialized national law governing ethnic unity. State media launched an extensive reporting campaign highlighting community integration and shared national identity, underscoring Beijing's legal push to institutionalize ethnic cohesion as a core pillar of national stability and modernization.

The enactment and active promotion of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress mark a formal transition toward embedding Beijing's ethnic policy into a dedicated statutory framework. By codifying 'forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation' into law, Chinese authorities are creating institutional mechanisms to standardize ideological and administrative practices across diverse regions, with significant implications for border stability, civic identity, and legal governance across ethnic minority localities.

China is set to launch its first nationwide Ethnic Unity and Progress Publicity Week from September 21 to September 27, 2026, marking the latest phase in rolling out its specialized legislation on ethnic affairs, state media reported on September 17. The public campaign follows the entry into force of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress on July 1, 2026. The statute was formally adopted on March 12, 2026, during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress. Official outlets have described the act as the first specialized national legislation dedicated to ethnic unity in the modern era, establishing a statutory foundation for broader governance efforts in ethnic affairs. Ahead of the publicity week, state-run Xinhua News Agency introduced a dedicated reporting column titled "Forging the Community, One Chinese Family." According to official reports, the campaign aims to showcase regional practices that foster cultural exchange, integration, and economic development among all ethnic groups, while reinforcing a shared national identity. Official commentaries emphasized that ethnic unity remains directly connected to national territorial integrity, border consolidation, and domestic social stability. Party leadership has long characterized "forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation" as the fundamental guideline governing ethnic minority work and regional administration. During the upcoming publicity week, authorities across various levels of government are scheduled to organize targeted educational and cultural activities. These programs are designed to reinforce adherence to the nation's political and cultural frameworks, aligning regional social cohesion with the broader targets of Chinese modernization and long-term security.