Senior Chinese official stresses reform, stability in Xinjiang

Senior official Yu Zhengsheng has urged Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) to deepen reform and play its role in ensuring social stability and lasting peace in the region.

Yu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from Monday to Wednesday.

Yu, who is also chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, visited farms, companies, communities and enterprises and spoke with officials and people from all walks of life about reform, development and stability of the XPCC, which is an economic, semi-military institution stationed in Xinjiang.

To establish and improve the role of the XPCC is a CPC Central Committee strategic arrangement, in addition to strengthened frontier governance, he said, calling on the authorities to fully comprehend the importance of deepening reform under the current circumstances.

He called for efforts to enhance the Party's core leadership, improve the administration of the XPCC, reform its fiscal management system and that of state-owned enterprises, and improve its ability to maintain stability and defend frontiers.

A sound environment should be created to promote reform and protect the interests of all staff, as well as to enable the XPCC to better undertake its role, Yu said.

He stressed the importance of improving the economy and people's quality of life, and facilitating communication among various ethnic groups.

Yu also pledged to continue to crackdown on the three forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism to maintain social stability. Endi