A senior Chinese official Monday urged relevant departments to properly handle public complaints and treat petitioners kindly to promote social stability and harmony.

Zhou Yongkang, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said at a conference that as problems arising from unbalanced and unsustainable development could not be thoroughly resolved in the short term, "various social conflicts will keep growing and be reflected through petitions."

He said disputes should be reduced from the origin by closing development gaps between regions and improving people's living standard.

Petitioners should be kindly treated and their complaints be earnestly addressed, Zhou said, warning that a handful of unreasonable harassers would be dealt with in line with the law.

Zhou said officials' work abilities should be enhanced so that they could "solve disputes efficiently on the spot."

Last year when the country was hit by the global financial crisis and social conflicts increased, the government resolved many difficult problems, especially those concerning people's life, which greatly contributed to the steady and rapid economic development and social stability, he said.

He said more guidance should be offered to eastern Shanghai and southern Guangzhou to ensure smooth progress of the World Expo and the 16th Asian Games, the country's two large events of the year.