text: instruction, the minority languages would disappear. In connection with freedom of belief, it was reported that temples had been re-opened in Tibet, and he wished to know whether the economic basis of temples and monasteries had been restored. If that were not the case, could the Chinese authorities consider restoring their economic self-reliance? Religion or belief was a very significant component in the self-identification of minorities. Mr. DE GOUTTES said, as a preliminary remark pending the Committee's subsequent discussion on the question of sources of information, that he saw no reason why the Committee, in dealing with so important an issue as racial discrimination, should adopt a more restrictive, timorous approach to the question of sources than, for instance, the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection 01 Minorities. CERD/C/SR.869 page 12 The reports suggested that the Convention was well observed in China. They did not, however, reflect the difficulties and problems reported from many other sources, particularly non-governmental organizations. Bodies like the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination were often faced with a situation of that kind, in which there was an official version presented by the reporting State and another version reflecting a more cr.itical view of the actual situation. As an independent expert, he requested the representatives of China to accept what was in fact the Committee's raison d'etre, namely its function as an investigating body seeking and obtaining information from a variety of sources and comparing it with the information provided by the reporting country. He was sure that the representative of China would see the merits of co-operating in that kind of approach. Regarding the application of articles 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Convention, the reports had rightly focused on the problem of minorities. Although it was 
analysis: The text discusses the situation of minority languages and religions in China, specifically the economic basis of temples and monasteries. It also touches on the role of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in investigating and obtaining information on the situation of minorities. While not directly related to economic development or industry, the text does highlight the importance of understanding the cultural and religious practices of minorities in China.