(MA ZHANCHENG)

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong urges the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) to act as a stabilizer in the country's northwestern autonomous region.

Liu made the remarks when addressing the ceremony for the 60th founding anniversary of the XPCC on October 7.

Starting from scratch, the XPCC has reclaimed ecological oases from the desolate Gobi desert, initiated Xinjiang's modernization, built large-scale agriculture and industrial and mining enterprises, and established new cities and towns in cooperation with local people of different ethnic groups.