BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday urged greater efforts to promote the traditional spirit of the Production and Construction Corps (PCC) in Xinjiang, aiming to further boost the region's development and safeguard its stability.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting a delegation of veterans from Xinjiang's PCC, whose visit to Beijing was organized by the Beijing municipal government.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao, Zhou thanked the servicemen for the achievements they have made in boosting local development and stability after being sent to Xinjiang by the central authorities 60 years ago.

Zhou said that in addition to guarding the "happiness and safety" of the ethnic people of Xinjiang, the PCC servicemen have worked hard to reclaim farmlands, plant trees and complete other tasks.

Zhou, who is also secretary of the CPC Central Committee's Commission for Political and Legal Affairs, urged younger PCC servicemen to follow in the footsteps of their forerunners and contribute to the safety and stability in Xinjiang.