China pledges to improve the future for ethnic groups with small populations by increasing investment in infrastructure construction and vocational training.
A senior offical from ethnic affairs, Yang Jianqiang, says a special fund will be allocated by the government to help the development of such groups.
(2a/soundbite/0830 ethnic)
"Our major task is to speed up infrastructure construction, improve living conditions, adjust economic structure, develop science and technology, and increase quality of population."
Among the 55 ethnic minority groups of China, 22 have a population of less than 100,000. Most of them live in remote areas with a poor natural environment.