国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese leader urges Chongqing to step up efforts to promote social harmony

BEIJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese leader has urged authorities in southwest China's Chongqing municipality to step up their efforts to promote social harmony and increase investment to improve the people's standards of living.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection of the city from Thursday to Saturday.

Zhou called on local authorities to seize development opportunities while working for coordinated development between urban and rural areas.

Zhou Yongkang (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee, visits 70-year-old Jiang Xiaoming (L) and his family members in the Shahe Sub-district of the Wanzhou District of Chongqing, southwest China, Nov. 11, 2010. Zhou Yongkang has made an inspection tour in Chongqing.

When visiting a local court, Zhou urged judicial staff members to pay more attention to details and offer quality and convenient service to the public.

Additionally, Zhou spoke highly of police and judicial staff's contributions in cracking down on gangs and organized crime.