URUMQI, June 17 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) reiterated the importance of maintaining solidarity and social stability among the diverse ethnic groups of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"I am very pleased to see that you have seen remarkable development in production and improvements in life quality here," said He Guoqiang, a Politburo Standing Committee member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Central Discipline Inspection of the CPC Central Committee.

He made the remarks during a tour in Xinjiang, which lasted from June 12 to 17. He went to the cities of Aksu, Yili, Altai, and Urumqi, where he spoke with local people on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and its general secretary, Hu Jintao.

He urged local officials to find more opportunities to increase the incomes of local farmers and herdsmen, which will allow Xinjiang's ethnic population to share in the achievements of China's progress.

When He visited the family of an ex-soldier named Abuliz Hujiabula in Aksu, the former Uygur serviceman asked his daughter to read a grateful letter on his behalf, thanking the Party and the government for policies that have helped achieve ethnic solidarity, progress and common development in Xinjiang.

In the letter, the ex-soldier pledged to be thankful to the Party and the government.

After reading the letter, He thanked the ex-soldier and his family in return, saying "the Party and the government should also be grateful to you. We should thank the ethnic groups of Xinjiang for their contributions in developing Xinjiang and stabilizing China's frontier."

During his tour, the senior Party official also paid visits to several local energy companies, as well as the Huo'erguosi Customs Bureau, which borders the Republic of Kazakhstan. He urged local entrepreneurs to develop Xinjiang by making use of local advantages and opening up to the outside world.

During a visit to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, He thanked the corps' farmers for their contributions in stabilizing, developing and enriching the region.

He also had talks with officials who have volunteered to leave their posts in China's inland to work in Xinjiang, asking them to keep their mission in mind and work hard.

During a meeting with local disciplinary officials, He asked them to continue carrying out a recent anti-corruption campaign.