Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday night convened a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to discuss issues relating to the Xinjiang riot.

The meeting was told that stability in Xinjiang is the "most important and pressing task," according to a statement issued on Thursday. The meeting also vowed "severe punishment" on culprits in accordance with the law.

Hu, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, cut short his trip in Europe due to the situations in Xinjiang, and arrived in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2009)