Chinese leaders met Friday to discuss plans to boost economic development and maintain long-term social stability in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The meeting, presided over by President Hu Jintao, stressed economic and social development in Xinjiang be pushed forward in a sound and speedy manner, with priority on guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods so all ethnic groups in the region can live a more prosperous and happier life.

The meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee said the Party's ethnic and religious policies must be upheld so people of different ethnic groups and religions can live in harmony and social stability can be maintained and enhanced.

The meeting also stressed the importance of increasing central and regional government assistance to Xinjiang.

The long-term social stability and rapid economic development of Xinjiang is of great importance to boosting development in western China and improving the living standards of all ethnic groups.

It is also of great importance to strengthen ethnic unity and safeguard the country's unity, the meeting noted.

Xinjiang has changed significantly since the establishment of New China in 1949 and the region has now entered a period of rapid economic and social development, the meeting noted, adding the region's strength has been significantly enhanced with people from all ethnic groups benefiting.

Studying Xinjiang's conditions and problems is a strategically urgent task, as is pushing forward the region's economic and social development, the leaders agreed, adding that long-term social stability is important.

Any problems in Xinjiang must be solved on the basis of scientific development, the meeting stressed.