Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said Monday in Urumqi that the people of west China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region should devote themselves to building a new type of relations between different ethnic groups.

"The various ethnic groups in the region should get together and develop a new type of socialist relationship of an equal, friendly and mutually beneficial nature," said Wen, who returned Saturday after concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

"Good relations between ethnic groups is a precondition for thedevelopment and prosperity of the country's ethnic and frontier areas," he said.

Wen also called for the region to make more efforts to enhance ecological construction and environmental protection.

"The governments of all levels in Xinjiang should set and implement a scientific concept of development, which is part of our sustainable development strategy," he said.

The photo taken on Sept. 27 shows Wen Jiabao, Chinese Premier and a member of the Standing Committee of the Politcal Bureau of the CPC Central Committee talking to a peasant who is collecting tomatoes in Siqi Village, Yushugou Township of Changji City, Xinjiang. Premier Wen stops in Xinjiang to make an inspection tour as he concludes visit to Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

Premier Wen Jiabao (C) pays a visit to Xinjiang Jinniu company on Sept. 26.

Premier Wen Jiabao talks to people at the Siqi Village, Yushugou Township of Changji City, Xinjiang on Sept 26.