BEIJING, Sept. 28 -- The State Council, China's cabinet, will award exemplary institutions and individuals for excellence in promoting ethnic unity and progress among ethnic minority groups, said a statement on Sunday.

The statement said 678 groups and 818 individuals will be honored for their efforts in "implementing the Party's and the country's ethnic unity, greatly contributing to the strengthening and development of socialist ethnic relations featuring equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony, as well as to the economic and social development in ethnic minority regions."

They are encouraged to make greater contributions to ethnic harmony, it said, adding that people of all ethnic groups should safeguard national unity, ethnic solidarity and social stability.