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Economies in the regions mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities have risen by over 10 per cent since the turn of the new century, new government statistics show.

The disposal of the average family income in urban habitation of minorities at the end of 2004 stood at 7,962 yuan (US$970) - up 2,565 yuan (US$311) in 1999, according to Mou Benli, vice-minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.

The growth since 2000 is the fastest on record, said Mou who claimed the "deepening" of reform and the expanded scope of the "opening up" process was behind the unprecedented growth.

China has 55 ethnic minorities and five provincial-level autonomous regions - Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Tibet, Ningxia and Xinjiang.

Mou said that the central government is drafting two five-year programmes on how to boost economic development in areas inhabited by ethnic communities - especially in frontier regions.

"To maintain economic growth is crucial for the country to narrow income gap between the rich east and the poor west," said Mou.

Senior official from the Information Office of the State Council, Zhu Weiqun said ethnic minorities are encouraged to use both popular Mandarin Chinese and their mother tongues .

"According to Chinese law, all ethnic minorities enjoy freedom of speaking and using their own languages," said Zhu, vice-minister of the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Mandarin, also known as putonghua, is the standardized language used across China.

Zhu said bilingual education are encouraged in schools.

Li Wenliang, a commission spokesman, said 13 universities and colleges in China devote to courses for ethnic minority students.