Wang Jinxiang, vice-chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said his regional government had long placed equal emphasis on strengthening ethnic unity and battling terrorist forces in the region.

He said the majority of the region's 47 ethnic groups - including Uygur, Han and Kazak people - greatly treasure ethnic unity and are determined to safeguard the unity of their motherland.

"Xinjiang has become one of the country's safest places, with the lowest crime rate, due to efforts by all ethnic groups living in the region," Wang said.

But he admitted that some people in the region engage in separatist and terrorist activities, endangering public security and economic development.

Given Xinjiang's sensitive status as a border region where many ethnic groups live, the fight against terrorist and separatist forces is vital, the vice-chairman stressed.

"We will steadfastly strike hard against a handful of separatists and terrorists to safeguard regional ethnic unity and the country's territorial integrity," he said on the sidelines of this year's session of the National People's Congress in Beijing. "There is no room for bargaining on this issue."

In a reference to the separatist East Turkestan Islamic Movement, the senior official said separatist and terrorist activities will achieve nothing as they go against the common aspirations of all ethnic groups in the region, who hope for regional stability and prosperity.

According to a document released by the State Information Office early last year, East Turkestan terrorists plotted more than 200 violent incidents in Xinjiang between 1990 and 2001, killing 162 people and injuring 440.

Backed by the United States, the United Nations included the movement on a list of terrorist organizations in September last year for committing "acts of violence against unarmed civilians without any regard for who was hurt," in the words of US senior official Richard Armitage.

Despite the potential threat posed by the terrorists, Wang said Xinjiang does not need to adopt any special precautionary measures as local governments have already been waging a counter-terrorist campaign as part of their routine work.

Major General Mei Xingrun, commander of the Xinjiang branch of the People's Armed Police Force, said his troops were getting fully prepared to adopt resolute measures to crack down on any terrorists.

"With cooperation from the broad masses of local people and police in the public security bureaux, we will play a vanguard role in waging the war against terrorism," said Mei, also a National People's Congress deputy.

The Beijing-based Legal Daily newspaper earlier quoted Mei as saying his troops had stepped up efforts to deal with any emergencies in the region.

Their preparations include the establishment of special counter-terrorist forces, the updating of equipment and an increase in armed patrols in major cities.

Xokelaiti Zhakar, mayor of the regional capital Urumqi, said the terrorist forces are too small in number to stand in the way of the region's development.

"We believe our beautiful and rich land has bright prospects because they (terrorists) are no match for Xinjiang's people, who are closely united," he said.

(China Daily March 12, 2003)