Senior publicity officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC) yesterday called for a general overhaul of the 70-year-old Xinhua Bookstore.

Xinhua Bookstore originated on April 24, 1937, founded by Communist revolutionaries in Yan'an, the Communist base in northwestern Shaanxi Province, as an organ through which to spread revolutionary works and periodicals prior to the Party's prominence after 1949.

It was once the only bookstore in China, with branches across the country under the planned economy. Its power waned after the introduction of private bookstores during the period of economic market reforms.

The bookstore itself has moved to become a major distributing conglomerate, incorporating 3,100 subsidiary companies, 14,000 chain stores and hiring 150,000 employees.

"For 70 years, Xinhua Bookstore has helped promote the Party's policies, culture and thought. Its contribution to the development of Chinese society has been felt in both wartime and peacetime," said Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee. "I hope Xinhua Bookstore will undergo rapid reforms to better cater to the public's growing demands in this global cultural age."

Li added that Xinhua Bookstore should also strive to better promote Chinese culture around the world.

?(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2007)