Nur Bekri [file photo]?

China's Xinjiang will spare no efforts to prevent and crack down upon sabotage activities of the three evil forces of separatism, extremism and terrorism to ensure social stability, chairman of the regional government has said.

Xinjiang will also strengthen the management of religious affairs in accordance with relevant laws, Nur Bekri, also a deputy to the National People's Congress, said during the top legislature's annual session on Monday.

"Xinjiang will earnestly implement the policy of religious freedom and guide the religious activities to fit into the socialist society," the official said.

"We will give protection to the legal activities and stem crimes so as to create a stable environment for Xinjiang's development," he said.

Located in China's far west, Xinjiang has been battling separatism, extremism and terrorism for decades.

About 41.5 percent of Xinjiang's 21 million population are Uygurs, a largely Muslim ethnic group. Security experts say growing religious extremism in the region has fanned most of the violent attacks.

During Xinjiang's most deadly unrest in decades, 197 people were killed and about 1,700 others injured after riots broke out in the capital city of Urumqi on July 5, 2009.

While keeping an eye on the security, Xinjiang will also speed up to build itself into a channel for China's energy and resources security and an important portal for China's opening up westward, Bekri said.

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