XINING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called for more social and economic development in the nation's Tibetan-inhabited regions to improve people's livelihoods.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his visit to northwest China's Qinghai Province on Monday and Tuesday.

Zhou visited workers fighting floods on the Golmud River and he urged local governments to work hard to ensure the safety of the Qinghai-Tibet railway.

While visiting quake-devastated Yushu County, Zhou urged the local government to speed up the rebuilding of quake survivors' homes.

Zhou encouraged the local Tibetan people to be optimistic about the future and to put the disaster behind them.

Zhou also visited a PetroChina refinery in the province and called on the company's staff to overcome the difficulties of life on the plateau and to make greater contributions to the nation's energy industry.

While visiting local communities in Golmud City, Zhou asked the local police to better serve residents and called on local Muslims to maintain national unity and social stability.