ETHNIC UNITY

Yu stressed safeguarding the rule of law, people's interests, ethnic unity, national unification as well as a severe crackdown on separatism, terrorism and extremism as key factors for Xinjiang's harmony and stability.

"Strengthening ethnic unity is the foundation for Xinjiang's social stability and long-term security... Efforts should be made to boost the exchange and harmony among people of all ethnic groups and build a social structure and community environment where they live, study and work together so as to increase bond and understand each other more," Yu said.

He stressed the Party's basic policies on religion, urging the promoting of lawful religions while stemming illegal and extreme ones and the crimes induced by them.

"(We should) actively guide religions to adapt to a socialist society, boost lawful religion management, cultivate a team of patriotic religious personnel and ensure the role of believers and figures in the religious circle in contributing to economic and social development," Yu said.

Regarding economic development, Yu stressed a high-quality and efficiency-oriented growth mode via the optimizing and upgrading of industrial structure, calling for modernized husbandry and a focus on textile and fashion industry, resource development and modern service sectors such as logistics and tourism.

"More efforts should be made to deepen reform and further invigorate the market and the society... while focusing on environmental protection and sticking to the path of sustainable development," Yu said, underlining strict implementation of water and energy conservation policies.

Xinjiang, a key region on the Silk Road Economic Belt, should seize the opportunities to greatly develop transportation and information technology to make itself a major window on China's opening to the West, Yu said.

Meanwhile, he said he expected employment to be boosted as a key factor for local people's improving livelihood and the region's stability, calling for better education quality to foster more local talents, precise poverty relief efforts as well as continued support from other regions.

More will be done to raise morale and unite the people of Xinjiang so that they stand firmly shoulder-to-shoulder with the Party and government to build an "iron wall" that safeguards stability and security, he said.

Yu and a central delegation arrived in Xinjiang on Sept. 25 for the celebrations of the region's 60th anniversary of founding, visiting local people and attending performances. They returned to Beijing on Thursday night.