President Hu Jintao and other top Chinese leaders Saturday joined a tea party for the deputies to the country's top legislature and the members of the top political advisory body who are from the ethnic minority groups.

The leaders urged the ethnic representatives to better fulfill their duties and convey the demand of the people of ethnic minorities.

They also urged unity among the ethnic minority groups for the prosperity of their hometowns and the country.

The tea party started at 7:45 p.m. at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

At the party, Hu chatted with deputies from Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, urging them to better serve their people.

The tea party was also attended by Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the Central Government has given full support to the development of ethnic minority regions over the years.

The ethnic regions have witnessed fast economic and social development, and their people have benefited a great deal from the policies, said Du.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2012)