HOHHOT, July 21 -- Chinese top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng has called for greater efforts to ensure ethnic unity in the country.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks during a four-day inspection tour to northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which ended on Monday.

Noting that China is a country of multiple ethnic groups, Yu called on authorities to focus on issues such as education, medicare, employment, infrastructure and environment in ethnic regions so as to better safeguard ethnic unity, social stability and national unification.

Efforts should be made to optimize and upgrade ethnic regions' industrial structure and improve people's livelihood, he said, adding that authorities must also enhance environmental protection.