Top Chinese political advisor Yu Zhengsheng has called for efforts to coordinate development and improvement of people's livelihood, promote religious and ethnic harmony to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Tibetan regions.

Yu made the remarks during an inspection in the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba in southwest China's Sichuan Province between Wednesday and Friday.

"The ultimate goal for accelerating the development of Tibetan regions is to improve people's livelihoods, and improving people's livelihoods should be a key criterion for evaluating the quality of development," Yu said, urging more funds and projects that favor the grassroots, rural and pastoral regions.

During the inspection, Yu visited schools, hospitals, monasteries and held symposiums with local officials.

Stressing education in both Mandarin Chinese and local ethnic languages, Yu noted that the teaching of science and engineering should be strengthened to boost the ability of students of ethnic minorities.

"Great efforts should be made to develop local medical services and cultivate high-level health workers in the Tibetan regions," Yu said.

Yu stressed that local religious work should be conducted in line with the principle of rule of law, and religious figures should actively guide Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to a socialist society, while resolutely resisting the influence from foreign forces.

While meeting with local officials, Yu praised social and economic achievements of Aba and urged the region to map out an employment-oriented development plan that combined infrastructure and environmental protection.

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2015)