President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for resolute opposition to any words and actions that damage the country's ethnic unity.

"We will build a 'wall of bronze and iron' for ethnic unity, social stability and national unity," Xi said while joining discussion of the second session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee.

"Unity and stability are blessings, while secession and turmoil are disasters. People of all ethnic groups in the country should cherish the ethnic unity."