The Chinese government announced Tuesday that it will further increase financial assistance to ethnic groups with a population of 100,000 and less within the next five years, so as to improve infrastructure of their villages, enhance their living standards, and resolve the issue of food and clothing for them.

According to a press conference held by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, the State Development and Reform Commission has decided to allocate 1 billion yuan (about US$124 million) for building infrastructure for these smaller ethnic groups.

The Ministry of Finance plans to give 112 million yuan (US$135 million) for improving living standards of smaller ethnic groups and increasing their income, while the State Development Bank plans to increase credit loans to these minority people.

The State Council Poverty-Eradication and Development Office has launched a package program to relieve all the 345 villages of smaller ethnic groups in the coming few years.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2005)