BEIJING -- All ethnic groups in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region enjoy the democratic right to participate in the administration of state and local affairs and in community-level self-governance, said a white paper issued on Wednesday.

All ethnic groups in Xinjiang, regardless of their population, history, development level and customs, have equal status, said the white paper titled "Respecting and Protecting the Rights of All Ethnic Groups in Xinjiang," which was issued by the State Council Information Office.