国内英语新闻:Top political advisor urges greater efforts to develop ethnic minority areas

BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor, Jia Qinglin, Tuesday called for greater efforts to develop the economies of ethnic minority areas.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remark at the closing ceremony of a seminar on ethnic minorities work for provincial- and ministerial-level officials in Beijing Tuesday.

Ethnic minority issues are important and the Communist Party of China (CPC) must properly handle them while governing the country, said Jia, who is also a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

He said officials must unswervingly implement CPC Central Committee policies concerning ethnic minority issues.

He urged officials to improve the livelihood of ethnic minority groups and promote unity among China's different ethnic groups.

In properly handling ethnic minority issues, the key is to strengthen the Party's leadership and enhance the abilities of officials at all levels, he said.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu also attended the closing ceremony.