The government will carry on its efforts to stop violent and organized crime in order to safeguard society, said a senior party leader on Wednesday.

The government and police will also make combating robbery a top priority, said Luo, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at a meeting on legal work held from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The administration will encourage more citizens to help the police in fighting crime by forming community networks, he said.

The police will also crack down on economic crimes to safeguard market order, he added.

The country has made progress in maintaining a stable society for its people, but there are still problems and challenges ahead, Luo said.

"We must place great importance to handling problems and conflicts among people in the right way," he said.

Every policy to be carried out should meet the basic interests of people. The administration should fully solicit citizens' opinions on whether policies are relevant to their daily lives, he said.

More efforts will also be made to educate people on their legal rights, he added.

The government will improve its handling of accidents in line with laws to minimize social unrest, Luo said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2004)