Zhou Yongkang (R Front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chats with residents in Kashi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 25, 2010. Zhou made an inspection tour in Xinjiang on Feb. 25-28. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

URUMQI, March 2, 2010 -- Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang has revealed that the government is preparing measures to boost the economic and social development of the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a four-day inspection to the region that ended on Sunday.

Zhou mingled with local cadres, teachers and residents when visiting Kashi Prefecture, Urumqi, the regional capital, and Shihezi City. He stressed the issues of housing, education and employment should be appropriately resolved to ensure social harmony.

He told two separate symposiums in Kashi and Urumqi that the CPC Central Committee would hold a meeting in the first half of this year, at which major decisions would be made to boost Xinjiang's development and enhance its stability.

Zhou said development should benefit people of all ethnic groups in the region.