Senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin has called on northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to continue its efforts to maintain social stability, unity between various ethnic groups and freedom of religious belief.

During his Sept. 4-10 inspection tour of Xinjiang, Jia urged leaders of the region to implement the country's system of regional autonomy for ethnic groups to the letter in a bid to promote reform, development and stability in areas inhabited by minority ethnic groups.

Jia, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, also called on them to continue their bid to safeguard national unity through uniting and relying on officials of various ethnic groups and fighting ethnic separatist forces.

He said the CPC's policy on freedom of religious belief should also be strictly implemented and religious matters should be handled according to laws and regulations.

During his weeklong tour, Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, talked with farmers, herdsmen, workers and religious figures as he visited several major cities and areas in the region, including Kashi, Altay, Turpan, Shihezi, Changji and Urumqi.

Xinjiang is home to 19 million residents of various ethnic groups.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2003)