Authorities say economic development, reform, employment and religious rights must make contributions to final goal

Yu Zhengsheng, China's top political advisor, said on Thursday that long-term stability and security are the top priorities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. He stressed that counterterrorism will be the focus of the local government's work.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a grand rally in Urumqi, the regional capital, marking the 60th anniversary of the autonomous region's founding.