Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday urged all-out efforts to maintain ethnic unity and long-term stability through development in Xinjiang when joining a panel deliberation with national lawmakers from the northwestern region.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang joins a group deliberation of deputies from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2016. [Photo: Weibo]

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is of strategic importance for the country's overall situation, said Li.

The region should push development to consolidate the foundation of lasting stability, optimize industrial structure, accelerate the development of agriculture, textiles and tourism, and enhance the proportion of non-resource industries in the regional economy, said Li.

Improving people's livelihood is the core task of the Xinjiang government and the central government will provide greater support in the region's infrastructure construction for water conservation, electricity and transport, said the premier.

He asked authorities in Xinjiang to provide better employment, education and social insurance services and increase the income for people of all ethnic groups.

Xinjiang should continue to do its best to maintain ethnic solidarity, the "lifeline" of lasting peace and stability, he said.

In a panel deliberation with lawmakers from Tibet Autonomous Region, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli stressed important principles such as governing Tibet according to the law and striving to make people rich and the region prosperous with long-term development.

He asked Tibet to complete building a moderately prosperous society along with other parts of the country in 2020.

Tibet needs to strengthen ethnic unity and make earnest efforts to maintain stability, he said.