Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang Monday urged law enforcement personnel to make firm efforts to safeguard stability in the national capital this year.

Zhou, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks after he heard a report from the municipal government on maintaining the capital's stability.

He commended work of Beijing's political and law enforcement workers in maintaining social stability in the past year, especially during celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the New China.

However, Zhou warned of the "arduous" task of maintaining social stability this year as "there are still many predictable and unpredictable factors that may affect social harmony and stability."

"Our country is still in a stage when many conflicts are likely to arise," said Zhou, who is also the secretary of the Political and Legislative Affairs Committee of the CPC Central Committee.

"Only when the national capital is stable, can the country be stable," he said.

Zhou hoped the municipal government would enhance efforts to solve social conflicts and disputes, promote innovative social management, and improve law enforcement in a just way.

Breakthroughs should be made in solving the root problems that have negative impacts on the capital's harmony and social stability so as to set an example to other provincial-level areas, he said.

Zhou visited law enforcement police, armed police and law service agencies Monday and extended festival greetings to them for the upcoming Chinese New Year.