Artists, writers urged to contribute to nation

President Xi Jinping has called on groups for writers and artists to unite and lead their members to create excellent works and make more contributions to national rejuvenation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark on Tuesday in a congratulatory letter to honor the 70th anniversary of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Writers Association.

Both groups were founded in July 1949. The literary and art federation has 56 group members and 135,000 individual members, and the writers association has 46 group members and 12,000 individual members. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended greetings to writers and artists across the country.

Xi said cultural and artistic work is of great significance for the Party and the people and is also an important area for the Party and the people.

Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China 70 years ago, writers and artists have followed the Party's call, proactively participated in the great practice of socialism and created a number of excellent cultural and artistic works, Xi said.

He emphasized that since the Party's 18th National Congress, the country's writers and artists have upheld the people-oriented principle, gotten close to the people, promoted their capabilities and made great contributions to promoting national prosperity, social progress and the people's happiness.

Excellent writers and artists are greatly needed in the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said.

Calling both groups bridges to connect the Party and government with writers and artists, Xi said that the two organizations shoulder important responsibilities in uniting and leading writers and artists and promoting the prosperity of socialist culture and art.

It is hoped the two groups will further learn and implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the Party's 19th National Congress, Xi said, adding that they should assume their responsibilities, fulfill their duties and unite the writers and artists to create excellent works.

Xi encouraged the writers and artists to make more contributions to promoting the prosperity of socialist culture and art, developing a great socialist culture in China, achieving the two centenary goals and fulfilling the great national rejuvenation.

Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, released Xi's congratulatory letter at a symposium on Tuesday marking the 70th anniversary of the two groups' founding.

Xi's letter demonstrated the great importance that the CPC Central Committee has attached to cultural and artistic works, Huang said, adding that the writers and artists should keep their original aspiration in mind, shoulder their responsibilities and create more excellent works for the people.