A Study of Forging a Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation in Border Areas

Wang Yongli

Abstract：Forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation in the border areas arguably is of great significance to realizing ethnic unity， building a common spiritual home for all ethnic groups， consolidating border defense， and creating a pattern of comprehensive openingup. However， the border regions apparently still face challenges such as unbalanced economic development， slow improvement of peoples livelihood， weak community awareness of the Chinese nation， and the influence of nationalism. Therefore， this paper puts forward the following approaches so as to solidify a sense of community for the Chinese nation in the border areas：

i） Promote a balanced and stable economic development. The border regions likewise need to promote their own balanced and stable economic growth， narrow the development gap between regions， provinces， and urban and rural areas; realize highquality economic development and openingup in frontier areas， constantly meet the growing needs of ethnic peoples for a better life， and lay a solid economic foundation for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation.

ii） Strengthen the development of systems for improving peoples source of income. Border areas should continue to focus on improving social and livelihood systems such as healthcare， education， public health， transportation， and communication. This could compensate for weak links in social and livelihood development， effectively improve the production and living standards of the people from all ethnic groups， and build a solid social foundation for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation.

iii） Strengthen the “five identities” through multiple channels. To foster a sense of community for the Chinese nation in border areas， one should conceivably adhere to the overall goal of “The Chinese nation is one family who works together to realize the Chinesedream，” to strengthen the peoples understanding of the “five identities，” and cultivate an ideological basis for forging a sense of community for the Chinese nation in an allround and multichannel manner.

iv） Give full play to the role of ?cultures of all ethnicities. The peripheral regions of China arguably should expand the role of cultures of all ethnic groups， while at the same time opposing ?all kinds of ?wrong ideas， and strengthening the ideological foundation of a sense of community of the Chinese nation.

v）Build a neighborhood security community with a shared future. Border areas should ? suppress severely all kinds of reactionary thoughts and ?detrimental forces at home and abroad in accordance with the law， actively participate in various international security cooperation organizations， such as energetically participating in international antiterrorism cooperation， so as to arguably safeguard and reinforce neighborhood security.

Key Words：border area; community for the Chinese nation; sense; forging