Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for promoting education equality during a visit to students from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who are studying in Dalian ahead of Teachers' Day on Sept. 10.

Li visited Dalian No. 20 High School, a school that has pioneered the enrollment of students from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

He encouraged eastern regions with abundant educational resources to give more support to underdeveloped central and western regions.

Education authorities in Xinjiang started sending high school students to schools in inland regions in 2000 with the aim of giving them easier access to quality education and greater opportunities.

"We should strive to realize education equality and ensure all children receive an education,"?Li said.

While talking with teachers at the school, Li extended festive greetings to all teachers in China.

Li also encouraged more people to teach in less developed regions in West China, and advocated more opportunities for teachers from western regions to receive training in the east so that education quality in the west improves and poverty-afflicted students see hope in pursuing education.

Education equality is the key to narrowing gaps between urban and rural areas and among different regions, Li noted.

Teachers are the most valuable education resources, Li said, adding that teachers shall be not only transmitters of knowledge, but also role models of ethics and morality.

(Xinhua, China Daily contributed to this story)