Over the past seven decades, the newspaper People's Daily has reported Chinese people's everyday lives enthusiastically and has borne in mind the principles of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday in a congratulatory letter to the newspaper to mark the 70th anniversary of its founding.

As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, it is time for the Chinese nation to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way, Xi said in the letter.

The Chinese president urged People's Daily to continue deepening and implementing the spirit of socialism with Chinese characteristics as well as that of the 19th CPC National Congress. 

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked the newspaper to continuously improve its penetration, guidance, influence, and credibility.

He expressed the hope that People's Daily make greater contributions to achieving the two centenary goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

In an event held on Friday morning to celebrate the occasion at the headquarters of the newspaper in Beijing, Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said People's Daily should guide public opinion in a good way, and pursue innovation under the notion of socialism. He also noted the newspaper should play a leading role in spreading mainstream values.