国内英语新闻:Chinese central government to step up support for Xinjiang: senior leaders

Li told officials from Xinjiang to make innovations in its development model, to facilitate collaboration with its partners, and to ensure the safety of the projects built with aid.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, called on the designated provinces and municipalities to lose no time in preparations.

He asked leaders in these provinces and municipalities to set up teams to research and survey their recipient regions in Xinjiang as soon as possible to form a work plan.

He also asked them to set up work groups as soon as possible, to select competent officials to work in Xinjiang, to enhance the training of these officials, and immediately start projects that could solve urgent problems in Xinjiang.

"We have to attach equal importance to economic development and social stability and intensify our precautions against and crackdown on the 'three evil forces' of terrorism, separatism and extremism," Zhou said.

Since last October, more than 500 officials from 64 departments have been sent to towns, villages, schools and companies in Xinjiang to inspect social situations and collect people's suggestions, amid efforts to study how to improve the livelihoods of residents and promote ethnic equality and unity

Earlier this month in his government report, Premier Wen Jiabao said China would focus on formulating and implementing policies for economic and social development in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Tibetan ethnic areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, although he did not give details.

The central government is preparing to hold a central work conference on Xinjiang in the first half of this year to implement measures to realize fast development and lasting stability in the region.