Combo photo taken on June 13, 2019 shows the portrait of Ai Ying'er, an 11-year-old third grade student of Blang ethnic group (R, photo taken by Qin Qing), and Ai showing his football at home in Bulang Ethnic Township of Menghai County, southwest China's Yunnan Province (L, photo taken by Hu Chao). Ai hopes to become a football player. Zhiguo minorities are special members of China's 56 ethnic groups. The term Zhiguo refers to minority groups who, before modernization, had lived in relative isolation and skipped the transition period associated with feudal monarchy. Yunnan is a major concentrated area of Zhiguo minorities, including the ethnic minorities of Jino, Deang, Dulong and six other minority groups. Early in April, the local government announced that ethnic groups of Jino, Dulong and Deang had been officially lifted out of poverty. The rest other Zhiguo minorities are expected to shake off poverty in this year and next. (Xinhua)
