BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged governments and localities to invest greater efforts in addressing outstanding issues in public petitioning, an official release said on Thursday.

Xi said in an instruction that outstanding issues aired in public comments and complaints comprise both fresh and lingering problems, but all are concerned with the immediate interests of the general public, social harmony and stability.

All government departments and localities must attach great importance to the work and properly address the people's legitimate and lawful petitioning through legal, policy, economic and administrative means,, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He called on authorities at all levels to strengthen analysis of risks as well as the management of sources of conflicts and disputes, making efforts to "nip conflicts and disputes in the bud".

Authorities should prevent minor problems from developing into major issues, said Xi.

Premier Li Keqiang also wrote comments on the topic, urging authorities to deal with petitions in a serious manner and upgrade measures. "Mechanisms for solving conflicts and disputes should be improved and the rights of the people should be safeguarded."