A senior Chinese official called Friday for accelerated development of minority ethnic groups and their regions.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said at a meeting with provincial-level officials that promoting development was the top priority in ethnic issues.

It had an important bearing on national unity, economic growth and social stability, Jia said.

He pledged the central government would help minority regions to develop, reduce poverty, invest more in social development -- education and public health in particular -- and give more support to smaller ethnic groups.

Disputes and contradictions concerning ethnic minorities must be properly handled according to law to consolidate unity of all ethnic groups.

He stressed that the Communist Party leadership should be strengthened and ethnic issues should be put at the top of the Party's agenda.

Source: Xinhua