Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Friday urged leaders and cadres to attach great importance to the study of Marxist theories and to creatively use them in analyzing and solving the country's practical problems.

Xi, also president of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remarks at the school's opening ceremony for the spring semester's second group of students.

Officials can enhance knowledge and insight, as well as foster a down-to-earth work style through their study of Marxism, said Xi, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Officials cannot do without the guidance of Marxist philosophy and the methodologies of dialectical materialism and historical materialism in making proper judgements on situations, keeping a sober mind in complex situations, and analyzing scientifically the country's development opportunities and challenges, he said.

Furthermore, he encouraged CPC officials to enhance learning socialist theories with Chinese characteristics and to make efforts in solving prominent problems which may restrain the country from developing in a scientific way.

More than 1,100 people, including CPC officials attending the school's spring semester and the school's leaders, attended Friday's ceremony.