Chinese top political advisor Jia Qinglin called for prosperity in the northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Monday.

Jia, chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when deliberating the government work report together with deputies to the 11th National People's Congress, the national legislature.

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Ningxia, a big event for more than 6 million people in the region," said Jia, also a top leader of the Communist arty of China.

While emphasizing economic reform and opening up, and the improvement of people's livelihood, Jia called on the NPC deputies to exert joint efforts for a better future of Ningxia.

The senior official also stressed solidarity among different ethnic and religious groups so as to achieve a better environment for economic and social progress.

The 66,400-square-kilometer autonomous region is the biggest area in China inhabited by Muslim people.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2008)