BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu Wednesday called on police officers to smooth their communications with common citizens in a bid to maintain social stability.

Police officers should develop a consciousness of keeping close contact with common citizens and well serving them, Meng said at a meeting here.

The ministry has just concluded a three-month nationwide campaign, encouraging police officers to walk into communities, solicit opinions and advice from the public and solve lingering problems, in the wake of a series of mass incidents last year, including protests by unemployed workers, taxi drivers' strikes, and unrest in the southwestern Weng'an County triggered by the death of a schoolgirl.

"The campaign produced positive effects. Common people benefited from it," Meng said. "In the campaign, problems were found and conflicts were settled, which has effectively safeguarded stability and promoted harmony in the society."

The ministry planned to regularize some good measures adopted by local police stations in the campaign, he said.

For instance, it will develop a mechanism that police officers must visit citizens in their communities regularly, he said.

Police officers will be asked to pay regular visits to related parties in major cases and inform them of the development of the investigations. They will also receive training on communication skills, he added.

Meng asked the police of all levels to be aware of their task to maintain social stability.

"More efforts should be made to settle conflicts in their communities and reduce potential threats to social security," he said.