The government is to give more support to minorities and boost harmonious development of all ethnic groups, said Vice Premier Hui Liangyu.

Building a harmonious society and a new socialist countryside required the government to give more priorities to ethnic work, Hui said on a visit to southwest China's Yunnan Province from Jan. 11 through 15.

More practical measures should be taken to help the development of ethnic groups, especially those with small populations, including accelerating infrastructure construction and resolving problems concerning education, healthcare and broadcasting, he said.

Local governments should also help ethnic people to develop agriculture in accordance with local conditions and help them increase their incomes, he said on visits to villages in Jinghong City, Menghai County and Simao City.

Hui also inspected measures to prevent and control bird flu at border ports, and met with forest armed police in the province.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2007)