Senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said on Tuesday that special measures and policies should be taken to boost the development of areas dominated by ethnic minorities.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said during his inspection in southwest China's Yunnan Province that efforts should be made to improve the living standard of the people of ethnic minorities.

"Local governments should improve the infrastructures in the areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and help them develop industries fit to local conditions," Jia said.

He said local government should develop recycling economy for energy saving and emission reduction to ensure the harmony between economic development and environmental protection.

He also said the capability of independent innovation should be enhanced to improve the quality of economic development.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2007)