A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official has called on ethnic groups to improve solidarity and maintain a "shared mind" with the Party.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and head of the CPC's Department of United Front Work, made the remark during an inspection tour of Tibetan areas in northwest Gansu and Qinghai provinces from May 13 to 16.

During his tour, Du visited villages, ethnic group schools, households and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, exchanging ideas with local officials, scholars and religious figures.

Du endorsed the work that has been done to maintain stability and development in the two provinces' Tibetan areas, adding that the Party's work on issues regarding ethnic groups and religions has been "fully correct" and should be followed.

Du urged local governments to address solidarity and development, improve livelihoods and promote equal, harmonious and friendly relations.

While talking with local academics, Du called for enhanced efforts regarding ideological development and education, as well as more efforts to explain the government's policies to local residents.

Du also stressed the importance of fighting separatism and improving the organizational and administrative capacity of community-level government and Party entities.

While visiting local monasteries, Du called for building "harmonious monasteries" and strengthening the leadership of the monasteries' administrative committees.