A new five-year plan adopted Wednesday will help support ethnic minorities with small population, according to a Chinese cabinet meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The meeting of the State Council, or the Chinese central government, also discussed and adopted the Development Plan (2005-2010) for the Aid of Ethnic Minorities with Small Population.

The State Council said poverty remains an "outstanding issue" for the 22 Chinese ethnic minorities with a population less than 100,000, despite the progress made since the China's reform and opening up in the late 1970s.

To help them lead a better life, all relevant governments and departments must "give top priority" to alleviating the poverty of these ethnic minorities, the State Council said. "The coastal developed areas, large and medium-sized cities and big companies should give them the necessary help and assistance."

Four special substantial measures were announced at the cabinet meeting, including improving the infrastructure for these ethnic minorities, optimizing their economic structure, promoting science and technology and training more qualified professionals.

China has 56 ethnicities including Han nationality, which accounts for 93.3 percent of it 1.3 billion people. Most of the ethnic minority people live in the country's northwest, southwest and northeast areas, which are less developed compared to the coastal regions.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2005)