President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to accelerate the building of a Chinese intellectual system in philosophy and social sciences to contribute more wisdom and strength to the nation's modernization drive.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on promoting the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences.

Xi noted that since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China's philosophy and social sciences community has steadily advanced knowledge innovation, theoretical innovation and methodological innovation, producing a number of valuable research outcomes to serve the overall development of the Party and the country.

He emphasized the need to deepen systematic and academic research and interpretation of the Party's new theories and to step up the building of an independent intellectual system in philosophy and social sciences, in order to better respond to the questions posed by China, by the world, by the people and by the times.

Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the symposium discussing the country's work in philosophy and social sciences, which was presided over by Xi in Beijing.

In his speech at the symposium 10 years ago, Xi emphasized that a country without advanced development of natural sciences could not possibly be a leading nation, and neither can a country without major achievements in philosophy and the social sciences. He called for developing a system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics that incorporates the country's socialist practices.

On Sunday, a symposium on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in the sector of social sciences was held in Beijing.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

More than 200 people, including officials, experts and scholars from the social sciences sector took part in the symposium.

Participants at the symposium stated that on the new journey and in the new era, a solid practice foundation and broad innovation space for the prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences are well in place.

They highlighted the importance of continuously deepening the systematic and academic research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories, deeply studying major theoretical and practical issues of Chinese modernization, promoting cultural inheritance and development, and facilitating exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

They vowed to adhere to and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, create a clean and upright academic environment, cultivate and develop a high-quality talent team, and strive to open up new prospects for the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn