Full Text: Report on the Work of the Government

5. Energetically promoting cultural progress

To develop the country and rejuvenate the nation, we must not only be economically strong, but more importantly, be culturally strong. Culture is the spirit and soul of a nation, and the determining factor of whether it is truly strong or not. It can profoundly affect the progress of a country's development and change the destiny of a nation. If we do not develop an advanced culture and improve the whole nation's cultural and ethical levels, we cannot truly modernize. Emancipating our minds, and reform and opening up embody the spirit of our times, and they have become an advanced cultural force driving social progress and have filled the Chinese nation with vigor and vitality.

Over the past year, we vigorously developed non-profit cultural programs, sped up the reform of the cultural management system, improved the system of public cultural services, stimulated the rapid growth of our culture industry, brought prosperity to the culture market, and effectively expanded domestic demand. In the new year, we need to pay greater attention to and vigorously promote cultural progress. We will draw upon and carry forward the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation, draw on and make use of the achievements of the cultures of other countries, and build a home of spirit shared by the whole Chinese nation. Our government needs to better carry out its responsibility for developing non-profit cultural programs and ensure that the people's basic demands are met and that their rights and interests are protected. We will give high priority to the primary level, especially rural areas and the central and western regions in developing cultural infrastructure and allocating public cultural resources; make admission to more art galleries, libraries, cultural centers and museums free of charge; and enrich the people's intellectual and cultural lives. We will continue to reform the cultural management system, support non-profit cultural programs, develop the culture industry, encourage cultural innovation, foster leading cultural enterprises, and produce more healthy and inspirational cultural works to meet the diverse cultural needs of our people. We will promote the development of philosophy, the social sciences, radio, television, film, the press, publishing, and archives; make literary and artistic creation flourish; and strengthen the protection of our cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage. We will vigorously develop cultural exchanges with foreign countries, and make Chinese culture more influential internationally. We will energetically develop recreational sports, launch an extensive exercise campaign for the general public, and improve the people's health. The Chinese nation can not only create economic miracles but also make brilliant new cultural achievements.