URUMQI, March 31 -- A senior Chinese official has called for long-term social stability in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China through promoting economic development and improving people's livelihood.

Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his study tour of Xinjiang from March 26 to 30.

Yu, also chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, visited Kashgar, Aksu, Urumqi, colleges, and the paramilitary Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), discussing local development and stability with cadres and members of the public.

The development of the XPCC was the key point of Yu's study tour. He went to Tuoyun Prairie of the corps' Third Division, visiting cooperatives, a stitchwork society of Kyrgyz people, and watching militants' drills.

In Alaer, a city under administration of the First Division of the XPCC, Yu inspected low-income housing projects and kindergartens teaching in both Chinese and Uygur languages, as well as agriculture projects.

He also held seminars at Tuoyun Prairie and Alaer, respectively, saying that the XPCC plays an important role in the development, stability and border defense of Xinjiang.

The official called for development of modern industrial systems in the corps, something that will help nurture healthy and sustainable growth in the economy.

In the meantime, Yu urged the corps to better manage the relations between development and garrisoning the border region, special management systems and market mechanisms, as well as between the XPCC and the autonomous region.

He also visited some labor-intensive projects in Xinjiang, including a metalware manufacturing base in Kashgar, a textile industry base in Aksu, and vocational training facilities.

Employment is key to improving people's livelihood, Yu said, calling for more attention to be paid to the development of labor-intensive industries, strengthened vocational training and training of the national commonly-used language.

He also urged better bilingual education, with adjusted education resources to ethnic students more employable.

As for the stability of the region, Yu called for adherence to the Party's ethnic policies and the system of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities.

Local officials were urged to help the people stick to their identity of the Chinese nation so as to maintain ethnic solidarity, social stability and national unity.

He called for resolute crackdowns on the "three forces" of terrorism, secessionism and religious extremism, and improved work system and mechanism for maintaining stability.