BEIJING, Sept. 29 -- Chinese leadership called for stepped-up efforts to ensure leapfrog development in the country's ethnic regions by mixing policy incentives and utilizing a region's natural strengths.

In a statement issued after a two-day central work conference on ethnic affairs, Chinese leaders pointed out differentiated regional policies should be applied to China's border areas, impoverished regions and ecological preservation areas to assist in development.

The conference was attended by President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and other leaders.

China's transfer payment and partner assistance programs should be further streamlined and central authorities, developed regions and ethnic regions must all pitch in actively to stimulate growth.

China boasts 56 ethnic groups while ethnic autonomous areas account for 64 percent of the country's total land territory.

"Ethnic minorities and ethnic regions have witnessed significant progress since the founding of the new China, but certain ethnic regions still face considerable problems, such as poverty, and are still leagues away from the common goal of the comprehensive construction of a well-off society," the statement said.

It said efforts must focus on improving people's livelihood, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, infrastructure and opening-up in border areas.