BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- One thousand minority villages will be protected and improved during 2011 to 2015, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission (SEAC) announced on Monday.
According to a SEAC guideline, the minority villages should have at least 50 households with more than 30 percent of residents from an ethnic minority background.
The guideline said that living conditions in the villages should be improved and the basic infrastructures should be ensured, including water, electricity, roads and telecommunication.
China will also help villages to increase personal income and further construct the public service system.
More than 95 percent of school age children should be in schools, and over 60 percent of the labor force should receive skills training, the guideline said.
It noted to preserve ethnic culture and protect minority characteristics, as well as further develop national harmonious relationships.
In 2009, the commission and the Ministry of Finance started to carry out the program of protecting villages with minority characteristics.
The central government has invested 270 million yuan (43.4 million U.S. dollars) in three years and attracted funds to set up pilot villages in 28 provincial level regions nationwide.
Cumquat market in S China's Guangxi