The Inner Mongolia autonomous region had a lot to celebrate on its 70th anniversary on Tuesday, including having built a society growing in prosperity that is based on regional ethnic autonomy.

Women wearing the native dress of different ethnic groups in Inner Mongolia display goods associated with their culture during the celebration of the autonomous region's 70th anniversary on Tuesday. [For China Daily]

The festive mood spread from a celebratory ceremony, attended by 20,000 people in the capital, Hohhot, to the 25 million residents of this region's 1.18 million square kilometers of land.

"The successful example set by Inner Mongolia proves that regional ethnic autonomy is the choice suitable for China," said Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political adviser.

Yu led a 63-member national-level delegation that attended the main ceremony at the Inner Mongolia Ethnic Sports Center.

"The system is a base for a harmonious society and other ethnic policies of our country," he said. "Based on the premise of following national policies and keeping national unity, it can handle special issues of ethnic regions, like protection of local cultures."

The region, founded in 1947, was the first provincial-level ethnic autonomous region in China.

"Unity of ethnic groups is the lifeline for all," he said.

Yu praised Inner Mongolia for its efforts to enhance communication among different ethnic groups for common development.