Senior official stresses stability prior to national congress

Zhou Yongkang, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has called for confidence and more concrete methods to ensure social stability for the upcoming 18th National Congress of the CPC.

Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks Tuesday at a meeting on keeping social stability.

Stressing maintaining stability as the highest priority for the Party and government organizations at all levels, Zhou urged the government to coordinate the domestic and international situations while balancing reform, development and stability.

"Integrated measures should be adopted in order to solve issues that affect social stability from the sources," Zhou said, citing prevention efforts in various aspects such as improving people's livelihoods, scientific and democratic policy-making, just and clean-handed law enforcement as well as closer relations between officials and civilians.

Zhou urged Party and government officials to pay special attention to conflict-prone areas including land appropriation, building demolition, labor contracts and environmental protection.

"Campaigns against separatism and terrorism should be deepened and any sabotage attempts by domestic and overseas groups must be dealt with in accordance with laws and regulations so as to ensure the stability in key regions such as Beijing, Xinjiang and Tibet," Zhou said.

Zhou stressed that grassroots organizations should play a bigger role in solving conflict by improving their social management methods and protecting people's interests.

"Party and government officials should go deep into local communities and talk face-to-face with residents with difficulties so as to dealt with their problems and feel closer to local people," Zhou said.