Xi calls on Chinese artists, social scientists to work for the people

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President Xi Jinping called on Chinese artists and socials scientists to keep pace with the times and adhere to a people-centered approach in their work.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Monday during a joint panel discussion with political advisers from the sectors of culture, art and social sciences who are attending the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

"A soul is essential for a country and a nation," Xi said. "Professionals in the sectors of culture, art, philosophy and social sciences are important soul builders."

Xi Jinping shakes hands with Chinese political advisers during a joint panel discussion at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 4, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

He urged professionals in these sectors to base their work on China's new era, present historic changes in the era, and find answers to questions relevant to the era.

He also called on them to stay in close touch with the people and reflect people's lives and voices in their works.

"All valuable and meaningful work in cultural and artistic creation and academic research should reflect the reality and highlight the reality," he added. "It should be conducive to resolving real issues and answering real questions."

He asked those in the cultural, artistic and social scientific sectors to produce "outstanding work" for the people, encouraging them to make contributions to the country, the nation and the people.

Commenting on Xi's words, Zhang Jianguo, a CPPCC member and Peking opera star, said what impressed him most was Xi's emphasis on the close relations between creative work and the people.

An artist cannot produce great work without a deep understanding of people's lives, he noted.

Feng Yuanzheng, another CPPCC member and a famous actor, expressed similar views. If a performer wants to become popular, he or she must serve the people and create works that are close to people's lives, he said.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, also took part in the joint panel discussion.

The second session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee opened in Beijing on Sunday.