URUMQI, April 14 -- The infiltration of religious extremism has been notably curbed, as northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region appears to be stable and much safer, according to a senior Chinese official.

Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the statement during a visit to Xinjiang from April 10 to April 14.

Wang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that with the significant improvement of law and order, cadres and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang had a much stronger sense of security.

In Xinjiang, the economy is growing steadily and healthily; people's livelihoods keeps improving; and the exchange and integration of ethnic groups have increased, Wang noted. "These lay a solid foundation to address the issue of maintaining long-term stability at its roots," he said.

Wang asked the local officials to continue to keep high pressure on the three forces of separatism, terrorism and extremism, uphold correct ideology by opposing wrong thoughts, and fight poverty in southern Xinjiang to eradicate extremism.