国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese official stresses development, stability

SHIJIAZHUANG, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese official Zhou Yongkang has called on local authorities of northern Hebei Province to do a good job in the two major issues of development and stability, to bring more benefits to the people.

Zhou, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a visit to Hebei from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 to investigate the study and implementation of the Scientific Outlook on Development.

"Industrial development and city reconstruction should be based on scientific planning, using wasteland rather than farmland," said Zhou, urging local authorities to pay more attention to people's livelihood and protection of environment and historical and cultural heritage.

Zhou praised the province for its economic development and the local government's work in administration and stability maintenance.

He visited workers who were building a highway that was supposed to bring benefit and convenience to more than 80,000 local people in 109 villages.

At the construction site, Zhou urged work safety and the project quality.

Zhou also visited a glass factory, a heavy machinery company and a pharmaceutical group to inspect local companies' progress on technical researches and independent innovation.

He urged the province to promote economic restructuring and coordinated development between urban and rural areas to realize better and faster development.