Ethnic groups use 'express line' to national lawmakers

Unifying legislation

Ye Jianxun, deputy head of the legislative affairs commission of the standing committee of Xinjiang people's congress, said outreach offices in border ethnic regions are instrumental in fostering a strong sense of community.

Adil Rehmet, an official from Qiman township in Kuqa, said information collection stations have been established in many villages to teach residents how to provide suggestions through the Kuqa outreach office, and improve officials' understanding of grassroots concerns.

In Baiyang village, for example, efforts to make legislative participation more accessible include posting draft laws in plain language and organizing discussions on legal issues relevant to villagers, such as land transfers, and marriage and family matters. In addition, QR codes and phone numbers of officials are made public to enable villagers to report urgent problems at any time.

"These measures break down barriers, making it easier for people — especially those from minority ethnic groups who are not proficient in Putonghua, or standard spoken and written Chinese, to provide suggestions, thereby protecting their right to be informed about the law and to express their views," Adil said.

This process unites all ethnic groups and strengthens the "community spirit of the Chinese nation", he added. "As an ethnic minority official who was raised here, I believe ethnic unity is key to ensuring long-term stability and prosperity," Adil said.

Zamira Hopurjan, an outreach officer from a multi-ethnic tourism village in Ili, led left-behind women in establishing a tea factory after discovering their eagerness to start businesses. Now, 44 women work at the factory, learning new skills and earning an income.

"Outreach offices provide a platform for me to better understand local people's needs and fulfill their aspirations for a better life," Zamira said. The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law will encourage local governments to take employment and entrepreneurship measures to promote ethnic integration, she said.

"Our experience has been workable. I believe more people will contribute to strengthening ethnic unity, and their lawful rights will be better protected," she added.

Mirigul Memet, a judge from Shuimogou District People's Court in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, has integrated legislative consultation with legal education in her work.

To help implement the Law on Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language, she conducted community and school lectures using real-life cases to explain how standard Chinese enhances exchanges, job opportunities, and shared development. She also patiently listened to people's expectations regarding language, culture, public services, and rights protection that were relayed through an outreach office.

In her courtroom, she upholds the principle of equal protection for all ethnic groups, and focuses on strengthening ethnic unity while handling disputes.

Last year, when reviewing the draft law on ethnic unity and progress promotion, she suggested schools integrate fostering "a sense of community for the Chinese nation" into classroom teaching and social practices, which was ultimately incorporated into the final version of the law.

"Teenage years are critical for shaping values and national identity. It's essential that fostering a sense of community starts from childhood," she stressed. "Schools should introduce the ethnic unity law in ways that children can easily understand, thereby helping to enhance their legal awareness."

She highlighted the significant role of the rule of law, adding, "I will continue to be a guardian of the rule of law for ethnic unity."

Spreading awareness

While encouraging people to participate in legislation through outreach offices across the autonomous region, Xinjiang has also stepped up efforts to use these sites to provide legal education.

At a night school for farmers and herders in a Kuqa village, training sessions are held every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Village head Gulpiya Turdi said the classes are determined on standard Chinese proficiency. Each two-hour class includes one hour of Putonghua learning, and one hour of legal education.

She said most villagers are from ethnic minorities, with some participants older and others less educated.

"Combining language learning with legal cultivation fits their needs and makes laws more relatable," Gulpiya said. "Only when they understand what the law means can they offer targeted suggestions, leading to better law-based governance."

Ma Ziyang, head of Guangming community in Kuqa, agrees with this approach.

"Law is not just text — it is a pillar that solves problems. Only when legislation directly addresses people's real needs can it be effectively implemented," he said.

Ma, a former police officer, uses real-life scenarios — such as flight delays, school bullying, and self-defense — to explain legislation such as the Civil Aviation Law and the Public Security Administration Punishment Law to residents.

He also conveys the public's concerns through the Kuqa outreach office, contributing to legislative changes. This establishes a positive cycle of effective legal education and responsive lawmaking.

In Horgos, a city at the forefront of China's westward opening-up, collecting input on legislation is also progressing in an orderly manner, supporting both grassroots governance and opening-up.

The standing committee of the city's people's congress brought together 84 people — including law enforcement officials, legal professionals, residents and business representatives — to form a legislative input collection team. The team also integrated legislative consultation with foreign-related legal services.

Zhu Xuejie, a lawyer from Horgos, said she and other collectors concentrated on common legal issues related to contracts, labor and foreign trade. This helped introduce laws to people, with legal services also provided for enterprises aiming to go global.

"Our efforts are focused on promoting Xinjiang's high-level opening-up and improving grassroots governance of foreign-related disputes by strengthening the prevention and resolution of conflicts at their source," Zhu said.

Ye, the deputy head of the legislative affairs commission, said that outreach offices and information collection stations in Xinjiang serve not only to widely gather public opinions, but also to enhance legal awareness among the populace. "Only when legislators and ordinary people move toward each other can we better protect people's rights and ensure that law-based governance takes root at the grassroots level," he said.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn