( CNN ) -- China 's President Hu Jintao called Tuesday for a `` prosperous and harmonious '' Xinjiang province during his first visit to the country 's western Uyghur region since last month 's deadly riots , state-run media reported . President Hu Jintao said Xinjiang 's development will be `` better and faster . '' `` The key to our work in Xinjiang is to properly handle development and stability , '' said Hu . Hu , calling for reform , development , ethnic unity and stability in the region , expressed gratitude to the armed forces , militia and police for their work in quelling the July 5 ethnic riots in Urumqi , the capital of China 's remote northwestern Xinjiang Autonomous Region , Xinhua news agency said . The riots were between Uyghurs , who are predominantly Muslim , and ethnic Han Chinese , the majority group in China . Reports of deaths range from around 200 to many more . Hu , who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission , said Xinjiang must focus on economic development , maintaining social stability , and promoting ethnic unity and common prosperity . During a tour that began Saturday and ended Tuesday , Hu visited villages , farms , communities , factories and barracks in the largely Uyghur area of Aksu ; Changji , a land port between China and Central Asian nations ; Karamay , an oil base ; Shihezi , the headquarters of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps ; and the regional capital of Urumqi . Hu met with military personnel , hospital workers , local officials and religious leaders and with the widow of a policeman who was killed July 5 by rioters in Urumqi . He promised her family members government help if they should need it . Hu told villagers and herders that ethnic minorities would be supported through `` more efficient measures . '' `` In the future , Xinjiang 's development will be better and faster , '' he said , according to state-run CCTV . `` The improvement of people 's lives will be even more remarkable ; let 's work together to create an even better future . '' He said the central government `` attaches great importance to the well-being of ethnic groups '' and called the riots `` a serious criminal act masterminded by separatist forces at home and abroad . '' Hu added that all separatist forces are doomed to failure , and said the central government would support social and ethnic development , CCTV reported . Reports on Monday from state-run China Daily said that more than 200 people charged in connection with the riots could be tried this week . Problems in the region began in late June , after two Uyghur migrant workers at a toy factory in Guangdong province were killed in a brawl between Uyghurs and Han . Uyghurs protested in Urumqi , hundreds of miles from the toy factory . Uyghurs and Han reportedly attacked each other .
Hu Jintao makes first visit to country 's western Uyghur region since last month 's riots . He calls for peace , development , ethnic unity and stability in Xinjiang region . Riot began in June , after Uyghur workers killed in brawl between Uyghurs , Han . China 's state media said over 200 people charged over riots could be tried this month .