Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter on the 120th anniversary of the discovery and research of oracle bone inscriptions.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed enhancing cultural confidence and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations in the letter. 

Also known as jiaguwen in Chinese, oracle bone inscriptions are an ancient Chinese language named after the inscriptions on tortoise shells and animal bones, and are the earliest mature writing system in China. They are the origin of Chinese characters and also the root of traditional Chinese culture. Xi stressed in the letter that under the new circumstances, oracle bone inscriptions need to be inherited and better studied.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, remarkable achievements have been made in the research of oracle bone inscriptions. 

Research and application of oracle bone inscriptions have been carried out in collaboration with multiple departments. Many interdisciplinary talents have been trained and they are trying to make new and greater contributions to the development of the Chinese civilization.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)