The training of officials will be an important process in selecting and promoting officials, a high-ranking Chinese official said Wednesday.

At a meeting on official training, He Guoqiang, head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, emphasized the importance of professional training and education to Chinese officials, and called on governments at all levels to improve such training programs.

He said officials play a leading role in China's economic and social construction, therefore their training is necessary and important for the whole Chinese society to build an all-round well-off society.

Referring to the regulations on official education and training issued by the Party, He said the training should take the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the Thought of Three Represents as guidelines, and stick to the scientific concept of development.

All training programs should pinpoint the current need by national development, especially the projects of the 11th Five-Year?Guidelines (2006-2010), and focus on officials' practical skills to handle important issues, He said.

He stressed that the Party organizations at all levels should fully realize the importance of training officials. Any people violating the regulations will be severely punished.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2006)