BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The General Offices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council have published a guideline for enhancing ethnic unity.

China has made obvious progress in promoting ethnic unity since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, but weak links still exist in ethnic unity work, according to the document.

The document stressed efforts to improve governance of ethnic affairs, guarantee the legal rights and interests of citizens of different ethnic groups and resolutely crack down on criminal acts sabotaging ethnic unity and causing ethnic separation.

Work on ethnic unity should expand its focus to grassroots-level units, including communities, rural areas, schools, enterprises and military companies, said the document.

It asked to deepen publicity and education work on ethnic unity, push for the inheritance and development of fine traditional Chinese culture and expand the online space for ethnic unity publicity and education.

The document also asked for efforts to promote exchanges, communication and integration between different ethnic groups.