国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese leader urges greater efforts for Xinjiang's leapfrog development

Urumqi, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun has urged northwestern Xinjiang region to make more efforts to achieve leapfrog development in both economy and people's standards of living, while ensuring ethnic unity.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from Sept. 10 to 14.

While visiting Horgas, reportedly the largest trucking hub along the northwestern border, Li urged local officials to take full advantage of the trucking hub's geological location and further expand.

Li Changchun (2nd L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, talks with local residents in Yining, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 11, 2010. Li made an inspection tour in Xinjiang from Sept. 10 to 14.

Li expressed his hope that Horgas would become a pilot area for trade and investment as the country is seeking further development westward.

During his inspections of various companies, Li urged business officials to expand businesses and make greater efforts to become world-famous enterprises by developing core technologies and independent brands.

Also, Li visited a community, in the city of Yining, where residents of 12 ethnic groups live in harmony.

"Ethnic unity is the basic life line for people in Xinjiang, and is also a key guarantee for Xinjiang's prosperous development," Li said, stressing that local people should cherish ethnic unity as they cherish their eyes.

Additionally, Li called for a series of "outstanding" cultural products to meet the demands of local people and urged them to push forward the construction of a public cultural service system.