Officials should spend more efforts dealing with ethnic affairs, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said at a ceremony marking the conclusion of a seminar on ethnic affairs for officials at the provincial level on May 17.

Liu said that boosting the development of areas where ethnic groups reside is key to solving various issues in these areas, and officials must spare no effort to improve life for ethnic groups, including providing them with better educational and employment opportunities and better healthcare services.

She also said that inter-ethnic communication is the ultimate method to ensure consolidation of inter-ethnic relations, and officials must ensure equality among ethnic groups and stand firmly against discrimination based on ethnic origin.

Officials must also improve their ability to deal with ethnic affairs according to laws and regulations, Liu added.