BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang has urged making preparation for a central conference on northwest China's Xinjiang that will make arrangements to realize fast development and lasting stability in the region.

Zhou, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urged various departments to strengthen research on how to improve the livelihood of local residents and promote ethnic equality and unity in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Zhou made the remarks at a meeting here Wednesday on the preparation for the central work conference on Xinjiang.

Since last October, more than 500 officials from 64 departments have been sent to towns, villages, sentries, schools and companies in Xinjiang to inspect local social situations and collect people's ideas.

"(Xinjiang) has entered a period of fast economic and social development, with notable rise in comprehensive strength and people of all ethnic groups receiving the most benefits in history," said Zhou.

"However, Xinjiang's development and stability also faces many difficulties and challenges, and many new situations and problems have emerged, which requires us to launch deep research and mobilize the power from various sides to jointly solve them," said Zhou.

In addition, he urged centrally-administered state-owned enterprises to increase investment in Xinjiang and explore and utilize local resources in a scientific and reasonable way.