China boosts cultural development

Xinhua, October 18, 2011

Leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tuesday adopted a guideline that is aimed at boosting China's soft power and maintaining "cultural security."

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), addresses the sixth plenary session of the 17th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2011. The plenum was held in Beijing from Oct. 15 to 18. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 17th Central Committee of the CPC closed its sixth plenary session and approved a decision on deepening the reform of China's cultural system and promoting the development of the cultural industry.

The country will work to improve Chinese citizens' sense of identity and confidence in Chinese culture, according to a communique issued after the session.

Culture is emerging as an important part of the country's comprehensive competitiveness in today's world, the communique said.

China is facing a difficult task in protecting "cultural security" and feeling the urgency of enhancing its soft power and the international influence of its own culture, the communique said.

President Hu Jintao delivered a speech at the session, which opened on Saturday.

The communique said that, as a major form of support for national unity and a source of creativity, China's cultural industry will play a more critical part in the country's economic and social development.

The country should not only provide its people with ample material life, but also a healthy and rich cultural life, the communique said.

It said more resources will be devoted to boosting public cultural services and speeding up the reform of the cultural industry.

Great efforts are called for the improvement of infrastructure and services so that more common people can enjoy free or less costly cultural services, according to the communique.

The development of the cultural sector will be incorporated in the economic and social development and taken as a key index to assess the performance of governments and officials, the communique said.

Stressing socialist core value

The communique said it is imperative to promote the socialist core values and incorporate them into national education, cultural and ethical progress and Party building.

Socialist core values should be embodied in the production and distribution of cultural products, the communique said.

It stressed guiding public opinion with socialist core values and working to form a "standard guideline, common faith, strong spiritual force and basic morality" among party members and Chinese society.

Officials and scholars attending the meeting also agreed to firmly adhere to the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advocate patriotism and reform and opening-up.

Cultural products should serve the people and socialism and follow the correct direction, the communique said.

Efforts should be made to improve media work and promote the healthy and positive development of Internet culture, it said.

Developing cultural industry in the socialist economy

Officials and scholars attending the session viewed developing a cultural industry in a socialist economy as an important approach to satisfying the people's diversified spiritual needs.

The meeting stressed the Party's leadership in culture-related issues.

Talent building was also mentioned in the meeting's communique. It urged the Party to nurture both high-end and grassroots talent teams, as well as leading figures in the industry.