LANZHOU, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) leader Wang Yang has called for better work regarding ethnic and religious affairs as well as poverty relief in the country's Tibetan areas.
Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks during an inspection and research tour to Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province.
The three-day tour ended on Wednesday.
The CPC's policy regarding governance of Tibetan areas should be carefully implemented, Wang said, noting that related authorities and officials must fully understand the significance and importance of the work regarding Tibetan areas.
He called for greater efforts to promote ethnic unity and religious harmony, fight separatist elements and activities, guarantee and improve people's lives and eliminate extreme poverty to ensure the economic and social development and enduring peace and stability in Tibetan areas.
The focus of work regarding Tibetan areas is to maintain national solidarity and strengthen ethnic unity, Wang said, requiring greater efforts to create social conditions for people of all ethnic groups to live, study, work, and enjoy their lives together.
He also urged the upholding of the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation, stressing that the CPC's leadership over religious work should be strengthened. Also, noting that many Tibetan areas are located in remote and harsh areas, Wang said the poverty relief work in these places will be "very arduous" and required better organization and leadership and greater efforts by related authorities and officials to practice their duties and implement policies.
He also stressed environmental protection in these areas.