Senior official calls for Xinjiang ethnic unity

BEIJING, May 31(Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China on Thursday called for efforts to promote ethnic unity and maintain social stability in China's western-most region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

At the closing ceremony of a conference on Xinjiang's "pairing assistance" project, Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, told participants to consolidate and develop the hard-won harmony and stability in the region.

Inspiring and historic changes are taking place in Xinjiang, as illustrated by the strides it has taken in economic development and improving living standards for local residents of all ethnic backgrounds, according to the official.

Ethnic relations in Xinjiang are clearly harmonious, social stability has been remarkably improved, infrastructure has been reinforced and the overall social situation has generally been stable, he added.

Zhou also called for continued efforts to improve local residents' well-being.

The "pairing assistance" projects, first unveiled by the central government in March 2010, involve 19 provinces and municipalities supporting the development of Xinjiang.

Over the past two years, more than 4,500 government officials and talents from these provinces and municipalities have taken part in the scheme.