Social harmony should be placed high on the agenda of local governments while the old industrial base in northeast China are being rejuvenated, Vice President Zeng Qinghong stressed during a recent inspection to Jilin Province.

Local governments must preemptively deal with problems that jeopardize social harmony to ensure the country's economic development benefits every one, said Zeng after visiting Liaoyuan, a city prone to earth subsidence after years of coal mining.

Zeng acknowledged the work of Liaoyuan City government in resettling redundant coal miners. Nearly 800 million yuan (US$100 million) has been invested so far to help more than 50,000 miners and their families move into new homes and find new jobs.

"Your work has promoted harmony between management and employees as well as the masses and the Communist Party. It has provided experience for other cities where natural resources had been exhausted", Zeng said.

He also urged the Jilin Provincial Government to continue to facilitate harmony among its 48 ethnic groups and make sure all nationalities find prosperity in economic reform.

The Vice President called on members of the Communist Party of China to play an exemplary role in boosting the local economy and defending the Party's image of "serving the people, being pragmatic and honest."

Zeng stressed that local government officials should keep in accordance with the central government and strengthen implementation of policies on macroeconomic control to make sure China's economy growing in a sustained way and scientifically developed.

Jilin should give a boost to its industries such as auto manufacture, petrochemical, farm produce processing, medicines and high-technologies, he said.

During his four-day trip which ended on Sunday, Zeng also visited the provincial capital of Changchun and Songyuan and talked to residents from both urban and rural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2006)