URUMQI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang has called for breakthroughs in the development of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during his five-day inspection tour there.

Breakthroughs should be achieved in efforts to resettle herdsmen, promote bilingual and vocational education, utilize natural resources, and develop industrial parks, said Zhou, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Zhou told local officials to thoroughly carry out policies set by the central government to develop Xinjiang and strive for the improvement of well-being for the locals.

Zhou traveled across the sprawling Xinjiang, about one sixth of China's territory, from Sept. 19 to 24. He visited rural households, schools, farms, a crude oil pipeline station at China-Kazakstan border, industrial zones, and army camps.