Urumqi, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to strengthen and improve grassroots organizations of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to ensure prosperity, development, harmony and stability in ethnic minority areas.

Xi, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the call during his research trip to northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from June 17 to 21.

During his stay in the autonomous region, Xi toured Kashi, Bayingholin, Kalamayi, Shihezi and Urumqi cities, where he visited villages, communities, companies, schools and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

In Kashi, an area frequently shaken by earthquakes in recent years, Xi looked into the progress in building anti-earthquake houses. In Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang, he attended a class of a high school and talked with students.

While visiting some big oil and chemical projects, the senior official called for developing a recycled economy and protecting resources and the environment.

Before his departure, Xi addressed a workshop for local Party and government officials.