BEIJING, March 1 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday called on Party schools to stay true to their founding mission of fostering talent for and contributing wisdom to the Party.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a meeting marking the 90th anniversary of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and the opening ceremony of its 2023 spring semester.

Party schools at all levels should stay committed to their founding mission and make new contributions to building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, Xi said.

Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the event.

Xi pointed out that Party schools must focus on the central task and serve the overall interests of the country.

He emphasized the significance of adhering to the right orientation in running Party schools and urged the schools to align their thinking, political stance and action with the CPC Central Committee.

Party schools should closely follow the needs of the Party and give full play to their strengths to cultivate officials needed by the CPC, Xi said, adding they should also offer suggestions and proposals on major issues that the Party needs to study and address.

Noting that nurturing talent for the CPC is the unique value of Party schools which serve as the main channel for educating and training officials, Xi called on Party schools to play an active role in fostering key officials for governance who are capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation.

Party schools need to step up the education and training in Marxist theory, with a focus on using the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to achieve unity in thought, will and action, as well as enhancing cohesion and forging the Party's soul with the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi said.

Noting that Party schools are places where leading officials strengthen their Party consciousness, Xi called on Party schools at all levels to guide and help leading officials in adopting the right attitude towards power, performance and career to preserve the political character of Communists.

Xi stressed that leading officials must improve their capabilities in all respects, strive to be highly proficient in their work, and make constant efforts to enhance their professionalism to be more competent in their work as leading officials.

Acknowledging the crucial role of Party schools in contributing wisdom to the CPC, Xi emphasized the need for them to produce more quality output in various domains including the study and interpretation of the Party's new theories, boosting the Party's theoretical innovation and offering suggestions and proposals to the Party and the government.

Party schools are the vital frontier of the Party's ideological work, which must be held in hands of those loyal to the Party and Marxism, Xi said.

Stressing rigorous governance over Party schools and their teaching quality, Xi underscored the key task of building a strong team and demanded strenuous efforts in implementing the strategy of invigorating the schools by developing a quality workforce.

Upholding the Party's overall leadership over the work of Party schools is the CPC's most fundamental experience in running Party schools, Xi said, urging Party committees and governments at all levels and departments involved to take actions to support the development of Party schools.

Chen Xi presided over the meeting. He said Xi's speech fully and deeply expounded the founding mission of Party schools, and serves as a guideline document for the development of Party schools in the new era.

Chen urged Party schools at all levels to thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of Xi's speech, and to make new advances in their work on the new journey.

The meeting was held via teleconference, with parallel sessions at the executive leadership academies in Pudong, Jinggangshan and Yan'an.