URUMQI, May 30 -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has called for solid efforts to consolidate anti-poverty achievements and improve water conservancy infrastructure.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a research trip that took place from Tuesday to Thursday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In the city of Kashgar and Yecheng County in Kashgar Prefecture, Liu talked to farmers and herdsmen and learned about local people's work and life, medical treatment and schooling.

Targeted assistance should be offered to local residents to prevent the return of poverty, and more should be done to foster the endogenous development momentum. He also urged the promotion of rural development in a precise and practical manner, so that more farmers and herdsmen can live a better life.

Liu inspected the construction and operation of water conservancy facilities and grain production in Yining County, Nilka County and the city of Cocodala of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture.

He stressed the planning of regional water networks, the construction of high-standard farmland and water conservancy facilities, the application of cost-effective and efficient water-saving technologies, and agriculture and animal husbandry industries with unique advantages, among others.