Zhou Yongkang (front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, visits a touring exhibition of paintings of Xinjiang life in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2012. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

 A senior Chinese official has urged artists to create more works depicting unity among officials and people of all ethnic backgrounds in western China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks on Tuesday, while visiting a touring exhibition of paintings of Xinjiang life.

The exhibition, which has graced Guangzhou, Shanghai and Urumqi since March this year, has been on display in Beijing since May 20.

Collecting 140 artworks from more than 80 Chinese painters, some of whom are from Xinjiang, the show is scheduled to stop in the United States, Europe, Japan and Hong Kong after August.