Party committees and governments should take the primary responsibility for maintaining social stability by improving living standards, says a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official.

The remark was made by Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, during a visit to central Hubei Province from Thursday to Sunday.

Zhou Yongkang (C), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, talks with Ao Dahuan (1st, R) a village official at Guyi township in Xiangfan, central China's Hubei Province July 3, 2009. Zhou visited the province from July 2 to 5.

Zhou said it was essential for Party committees and governments at grassroots level to mobilize the public to resolve disputes and conflicts at an early stage.

Local governments should increase financial support for medical care and pension systems, Zhou said.

He urged government officials of Xiangfan City to ensure residents could have clean water and convenient transport as soon as possible.

Visiting businesses in the province, Zhou said companies should provide more jobs to absorb more labor and contribute more to local economies.

Zhou also met police and armed police officers in the provincial capital, Wuhan, and praised them for maintaining local stability.