国内英语新闻:President Hu calls for greater development in China's west

LIVELIHOOD

Hu also visited a residential community built in 2004 for people who previously lived in subsidence areas caused by coal mining.

At the home of Pang Huaiwen, a retired mining worker, Hu promised to continue increasing pension for enterprise retirees and strengthening the effort of transforming shanty towns in industrial and mining areas so that retired workers could share the fruit of reform and development.

In a village housing 866 families who moved here from drought areas, Hu said more measures will be taken to help relocated people increase incomes.

He asked local officials to properly address the issues concerning the livelihood of the migrants.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) visits Xiaoren Fruit and Vegetable Ltd. Company in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Hu Jintao called for more efforts to promote social, economic development in the underdeveloped western areas of the country during his three-day visit to northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from March 21 to 23.

Hu also made a special visit to a well-drilling construction site in Yongning County, where he unveiled a well built by an engineering corps for water-lacking local people.

Hu underscored ethnic unity when meeting with representatives of the region's religious and ethnic affairs circles.

Ningxia has a population of 6.18 million, 36 percent of which are ethnic Hui.

"Ethnic unity is a good tradition of the region," Hu said, adding Ningxia has fully carried on the country's ethnic and religious policies.

"Ningxia's development proves that no hardship is unconquerable if all ethnic groups work together to build our common home," he said.