China vows to maintain stability in Xinjiang

BEIJING - China will harshly crack down on terror attacks and maintain lasting stability in Xinjiang, the central leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) said on Monday.

The stability of Xinjiang is strategically vital to the whole country's reform and development as well as its national security, said a statement released after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, chaired by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

All Party members should perceive the timeliness and complexity of the acute anti-separatist struggle in Xinjiang and better understand the importance and urgency of maintaining local stability, said the statement.

Top priority should be given to the fight against violent terror attacks and religious extremist forces, it said, adding confidence is needed to win the long-term struggle.

"The Party's policies on Xinjiang have been proved completely right," the central leadership said, urging more efforts to implement the existing ethnic policies to promote bilingual education and interaction between ethnic groups.