Senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liu Yunshan underscored the importance of cultural confidence and soft power during a speech at a Party school opening ceremony.

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, urged officials to consolidate confidence in culture and help promote cultural prosperity in his address at the school's autumn semester ceremony.

Liu asked officials to learn from speeches delivered by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and contribute to the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

"We have every reason to consolidate our confidence in culture, and the key is to be aware of the deep root of our culture that has unique advantages," Liu said, adding that this would help enhance China's soft power, elevating it into a major socialist cultural power.

He requested that officials do their utmost to advance and enrich Chinese culture and practice socialist core values.

Liu also called for more efforts to accelerate the development of cultural industry via reform and innovation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2016)