At the Central Conference on Ethnic Affairs， General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to correctly handle “four pairs of relationships”： that between commonality and diversity， that between the sense of community for the Chinese nation and the awareness of individual ethnic groups， that between Chinese culture and the cultures of all ethnic groups， and that between material progress and cultural-ethical advancement. These important remarks on the “four pairs of relationships” represent major theoretical innovations and practical guidelines for the Party’s work on ethnic affairs in the new era. They profoundly reveal the internal structure of the community for the Chinese nation and the laws governing its formation and consolidation， equipping us with fundamental dialectical thinking and a guide to action for scientifically understanding and properly handling ethnic issues and forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as we forge ahead on the new journey of building a great modern socialist country and advancing national rejuvenation. Correctly managing these “four pairs of relationships” constitutes the epistemological foundation and core methodology for staying firmly on the correct path with Chinese characteristics for solving ethnic issues. It carries powerful practical guiding significance for advancing the development of the Chinese nation as one community and securing new historic achievements in the Party’s ethnic work in the new era.