President Xi Jinping attended a gathering with ethnic minority lawmakers and political advisers on Saturday evening on the sidelines of the annual national legislative and political consultative sessions.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, along with other Party and State leaders, arrived at the banquet hall of the Great Hall of the People to applause from the group, who were clad in traditional ethnic dress.

Xi was greeted by Gesang Zhoigar, a deputy to the National People's Congress from Tibet who sat next to him. She told him about improved life in her village, where big changes in education, medical services, elderly care and housing have taken place.

Xi asked her to convey his regards to the villagers, wishing them an even better life.

After being briefed by a deputy from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on local developments, Xi told him to make solid efforts for ethnic unity and to help lead people to pursue a good life.

Other leaders also attended the gathering, including Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

All spoke with the lawmakers and advisers, encouraging them to contribute to the Chinese nation's rejuvenation. The gathering was chaired by Qiangba Puncog, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

Sun Chunlan, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that the Party attaches great importance to their work and has made a set of arrangements to support ethnic regions.

"We must closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core," Sun said, calling for joint efforts to build a community of a shared future for the Chinese nation.