Beijing -- Leaders of the Communist Party of China yesterday adopted a guideline that is aimed at boosting China's soft power and maintaining "cultural security" following the ongoing economic boom.
Ending a four-day annual policy meeting, the Party's Central Committee wrapped up its gathering by adopting a decision to deepen the reform of China's cultural system and promote the development of the cultural industry.
The meeting also passed a resolution to hold a Communist Party national congress in the second half of 2012 to elect a new leadership. The 18th Central Committee of the Party will be chosen at the Party congress, succeeding the current Central Committee.
The 2012 Party congress will take place in a "crucial period" of China's efforts at "deepening of reform and opening up, and the transformation of the pattern of economic development," the meeting said.
Competitive key
The country will work to improve Chinese citizens' sense of identity and confidence in Chinese culture, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
Culture is emerging as an important part of the country's comprehensive competitiveness in today's world, it 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 statement said.
President Hu Jintao delivered a speech at the session, which opened on Saturday.
The statement noted 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 an ample material life, but also a healthy and rich cultural life, the statement said.
Core values
It promises to devote more resources to boosting public cultural services and to speed up the reform of the cultural industry. 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 statement said.
It said it is imperative to promote socialist core values and incorporate them into national education, cultural and ethical progress.
It is stressed to guide public opinions with socialist core values and work to form a "standard guideline, common faith, strong spiritual force and basic morality" among Party members and Chinese society.
Party officials attending the meeting also said efforts should be made to improve media work and promote the healthy and positive development of Internet culture.
