Marxism Research Network
Unofficial English Translation

Chu Songyan: Correctly Grasping the Relationship Between Commonality and Diversity

Modern Chinese History

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has always attached great importance to ethnic work. For over a century, the CPC has persisted in integrating Marxist ethnic theory with the concrete realities of China's ethnic issues and with fine traditional Chinese culture, creatively carving out a correct path with Chinese characteristics for resolving ethnic issues. In his important speech at the 2021 Central Conference on Ethnic Affairs, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "it is necessary to correctly grasp the relationship between commonality and difference; increasing commonality while respecting and tolerating difference is an important principle of ethnic work." Commonality takes difference as its prerequisite, while difference takes commonality as its orientation. Only by correctly handling the dialectical unity between commonality and difference can the Party's ethnic work in the New Era be executed with precision, substance, and excellence.

In the long course of historical development, all ethnic groups have lived and multiplied together on the land of China, sharing intricate ties of blood and kinship. From inside and outside the Great Wall to the reaches of the great rivers, customs differ within a hundred li and traditions vary over a thousand li [1]; unique styles of food, clothing, music, and painting have been formed. The mutual learning and integration of farming, grassland, and maritime civilizations have gradually formed an inseparable community with a shared future characterized by blended bloodlines, flesh-and-blood ties, and "diversity in unity" (duoyuan yiti) [2]. As General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, "The history of China is a history of various ethnic groups converging into a pluralistic and integrated Chinese nation (Zhonghua minzu); it is a history of all ethnic groups jointly creating, developing, and consolidating a unified, great motherland." Emerging from the depths of history, the Chinese nation, as a great family condensed from all ethnic groups, remains vital and ever-renewing.

Increasing commonality is the direction of ethnic work and an inherent requirement for national identity since the New Era began. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "To foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation is to guide people of all ethnic groups to firmly establish the community concept of sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace, life and death, and destiny." This "four sharings" [3] community concept not only aligns with the Marxist community idea of advocating ethnic equality and ethnic integration but also sublimates the traditional Chinese sentiments of "home-country" (jiaguo) [4] and the concept of "Great Unity" (Dayitong) [5]. Since entering the New Era, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the trend of mass migration and mixed residence among all ethnic groups has continuously strengthened. Through mutual learning, mutual assistance, and solidarity, China has achieved historical milestones in the construction of its economy, politics, culture, society, and ecological civilization. Ethnic minority areas, alongside the rest of the country, won the battle against poverty, fully built a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embarked on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The GDP of ethnic areas has steadily increased, the appearance of urban and rural areas has undergone profound changes, infrastructure conditions have significantly improved, and the level of public services such as education, healthcare, and social security has risen sharply, while ecological barriers have become more secure. Socialist ethnic relations characterized by equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony have been continuously consolidated and developed, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the Chinese nation have been greatly enhanced.

It should be noted that commonality is not homogenization or identity; rather, it is the "greatest common denominator" presented by all ethnic groups through continuous exchange and mutual learning during the process of modernization. On the new journey of comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, firmly establishing the "four sharings" community concept requires the masses of all ethnic groups to continuously strengthen their national consciousness, civic consciousness, and consciousness of the rule of law. They must strengthen their high degree of identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and continuously promote the construction of the community for the Chinese nation. Among these, identification with the great motherland and the Chinese nation is the external manifestation of the sense of community for the Chinese nation, emphasizing the shared identity of people of all ethnic groups. Identification with Chinese culture is the deepest root of the sense of community for the Chinese nation; it supports the pattern of "diversity in unity" and the structure of the "Great Unity" political community, driving the Chinese nation to become a community with a shared future characterized by higher recognition and stronger cohesion. Identification with the CPC and with socialism with Chinese characteristics provides the political guarantee for fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation; it is the foundation for safeguarding and realizing the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups and the common will of the people to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in unity. These "Five Identifications" [6] boost the construction of the community for the Chinese nation and further affirm that "people of all ethnic groups have one common home, which is China; one common identity, which is the Chinese nation; one common name, which is Chinese; and one common dream, which is to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Respecting and tolerating difference means that the differences among various ethnic groups in terms of food, clothing, customs, culture, art, and architectural styles should not only be respected and tolerated but also protected and passed down. According to statistics, among the projects in China listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, more than one-third come from ethnic minorities. This is both a manifestation of the diverse characteristics of the customs, culture, and arts of various ethnic groups and an example of the Chinese nation's respect and tolerance for ethnic differences since ancient times; it is a continuation of the protection and inheritance of the cultures of all ethnic groups today. Respecting and tolerating difference seeks "harmony without uniformity" (he er bu tong) [7] rather than isolation or estrangement in the interaction, exchange, and integration of all ethnic groups. Respecting and tolerating difference does not equate to being stubbornly stuck in the past or making no distinctions. When protecting and inheriting the cultures of various ethnic groups, we must persist in the equality of all ethnic groups and resolutely oppose Han chauvinism and local ethnic chauvinism. We must adhere to the combination of unity and autonomy, and the combination of ethnic factors and regional factors, consciously safeguarding the highest interests of the state and the overall situation of ethnic unity. We must insist that commonality is dominant and that difference cannot weaken or jeopardize commonality. We must resolutely oppose and resist viewpoints and practices that weaken or jeopardize commonality in the name of respecting difference and tolerating diversity. Based on the realities of different regions and ethnic groups, and following the principles of fairness and justice, we should highlight regionalization and precision. We should formulate and implement more differentiated regional support policies for specific areas, special problems, and particular matters. This ensures that the masses of all ethnic groups can share the fruits of reform and development while coordinately advancing the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four Comprehensives, constantly enhancing their sense of gain, happiness, and security, thereby making the community for the Chinese nation unbreakable.

China has a vast territory, and the resource endowments of various regions have their own characteristics, with strong economic complementarity and high interdependence. Various ethnic groups have always maintained economic ties of mutual exchange and mutual benefit, which has effectively strengthened the overall strength of the country and promoted the formation and development of the community for the Chinese nation. The ethnic and regional differences that correspond to this vast territory have nourished the commonality of the community for the Chinese nation, while the concept of the community for the Chinese nation provides tolerance and continuity for ethnic and regional differences. Thus, commonality and difference serve as each other's conditions and are interdependent, driving the continuous development and growth of the community for the Chinese nation.

By "not forgetting our origins," the Chinese nation has formed successful experience in handling the relationship between commonality and difference over five thousand years of history. Various ethnic groups have jointly forged a community with a shared future where "you are in me and I am in you" [8]—a diverse yet integrated and inseparable whole. By "absorbing foreign [contributions]," the CPC has, during different historical periods of revolution, construction, and reform—and especially since the New Era—continuously promoted the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, drawing on and absorbing all the fine achievements of human civilization. By combining the realities of ethnic work at different historical stages and enriching work paths, the Party has united and led the people of all ethnic groups to creatively carve out a correct path with Chinese characteristics for resolving ethnic issues. Looking toward the future, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has made fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation the main line of the Party's ethnic work and all work in ethnic areas in the New Era. This involves promoting the innovative development of the Party's ethnic work and continuously building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation, thus gathering a majestic united force to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization.

In summary, to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promote its construction, we must always adhere to the Party's overall leadership in ethnic work and correctly grasp the dialectical unity between commonality and difference. Based on firmly grasping the direction of increasing commonality, we must respect and tolerate difference, continuously consolidating the common ideological and political foundation for all ethnic groups to strive in unity. We must continuously solidify the social foundation for broad interaction, exchange, and integration, continuously construct the common cultural and psychological foundation for all ethnic groups to align their hearts and minds, and continuously stabilize the foundation for secure development where all ethnic groups share achievements and face challenges together. We must unite under the Party's banner like "a solid piece of steel," thinking with one mind and working with one heart, to drive the giant ship of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to brave the wind and waves and sail toward distant shores!