国内英语新闻:Senior leader calls for support of development in ethnic minority areas

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leader Yu Zhengsheng on Saturday called for support of economic and social development in ethnic minority areas.

Yu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks in a seminar with ministerial-level officials in charge of ethnic work.

Yu said supporting the development in ethnic minority areas is a basic guideline of the central authority. He said policies for the efforts should consider the differences of ethnics and regions, while those areas should emancipate the people's thoughts and comprehensively deepened reform.

Yu said development in those areas should focus on promoting the people's livelihood and the unity among different ethnic groups. Education, employment, environmental protection and infrastructure construction should be strengthened so as to build a base for long-term development.

Yu also called for work to facilitate exchanges among ethnic groups, building the common spiritual homeland and a community of the whole Chinese nation for all ethnic groups.