BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- On the morning of June 13, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a symposium at the Great Hall of the People to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Comrade Chen Yun's birth.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech, emphasizing that Chen lived a great and glorious life. Xi described as invaluable assets of the Party the noble spirit Chen embodied, the extensive leadership experience he accumulated, and the scientific methodologies in thinking and work he summarized. Xi urged the Party to earnestly study and apply these assets, carry them forward in practice, strive with determination and diligence on the new journey of the new era, and work hard to advance the building of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, attended the meeting. Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the symposium.

In his speech, Xi reviewed Chen's remarkable life and his indelible contributions to China's revolution, development, and reforms. He emphasized that Chen was a great proletarian revolutionary and statesman, and an outstanding Marxist. Chen was one of the pioneers and principal architects of China's socialist economic development, an outstanding leader of the Party and the state who withstood the tests of time, Xi said. Chen was also a key member of the first generation of the Party's collective leadership with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core, as well as the second generation of its collective leadership with Comrade Deng Xiaoping at its core. Chen made significant contributions to the advancement of the cause of the Party and the people.

Xi pointed out that throughout his long revolutionary career, Comrade Chen Yun upheld firm his convictions and ideals, a strong sense of Party discipline and principles, a pragmatic and truth-seeking approach to work, a simple sentiment of serving the people and diligence in learning. All these epitomize the noble qualities of a true Communist. Xi called on all Party members to learn from Chen's noble spirit, to fortify their ideals and convictions, to build more confidence in victory, and to maintain political resolve amid complex and challenging circumstances. Xi also urged efforts to faithfully practice the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, to follow the Party's mass line in the new era, and to rely closely on the people in achieving historic feats. Xi further underscored the need to fully implement the Party Central Committee's eight-point decision on improving Party conduct, and to win the people's support and trust by making real achievements in improving work style.

Xi stressed that no matter what area Comrade Chen was in charge of or what leading position he held, he was always diligent in studying, committed to in-depth research, keen on exploring patterns and identifying the essence of matters, demonstrating outstanding talent in leadership, and leaving behind much leadership experience which is still of great significance today. Xi urged the whole Party to learn from Comrade Chen's rich leadership experience, and work hard to improve the Party's capability of leading the social and economic development and its capacity of self-improvement. He added that Party leadership on work related to economic affairs must be strengthened, and that it is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of the laws underlying the development of socialist economy, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, accelerate the creation of a new development pattern, and take solid steps to pursue high-quality development. He also called for efforts to further deepen reform comprehensively, and unswervingly expand high-standard opening up, to inject more impetus and vitality into Chinese modernization. He added that it is essential to make further advances in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, and continue to strengthen the Party's capabilities to purify, improve, renew and excel itself, so as to secure its status as the strong leadership core in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi pointed out that always upholding the principle of seeking truth from facts was a defining trait of Comrade Chen Yun. He noted that Chen had distilled a well-known (15-character) formula: "Neither blindly follow superiors nor books, but follow only facts; through exchange, comparison, and repeated verification" -- a vivid embodiment of materialistic dialectics. He praised Chen's ability to approach issues from a strategic perspective and his emphasis on fact-finding work as a prerequisite for sound decision-making. Xi called on the whole Party to learn from Chen's scientific thinking and working methods, remain committed to the Party's ideological line, and thoroughly study and apply the worldview, methodology, and fundamental positions and approaches embodied in the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Xi emphasized the importance of accurate assessment of the situation and sound strategic planning, so as to make the Party's work systemic, forward-looking, and innovative. Xi also urged efforts to enhance the quality of fact-finding missions to gain a precise understanding of new developments, challenges, and trends in economic and social development, and respond effectively to the needs of the grassroots and the expectations of the people. This, he said, will help ensure that decision-making is grounded in reality and aligned with the people's aspirations.

Presiding over the symposium, Zhao Leji said that General Secretary Xi's important speech offered a heartfelt tribute to the great and glorious life of Comrade Chen Yun, gave high recognition to his enduring contributions to the cause of the Party and the people, and called on the whole Party to learn from Chen's noble spirit, rich leadership experience, and scientific thinking and working methods. Highlighting the speech as visionary, incisive and profound with great political, ideological and guiding significance, Zhao also stressed its great significance for the Party's adherence to the socialist path with Chinese characteristics, to the drive for reform and opening up, as well as to its effort in advancing Chinese modernization. Calling for earnest learning and understanding of the speech while ensuring its thorough implementation, Zhao also urged Party members to even more closely rally around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and strive to build a strong country and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

During the symposium, Qu Qingshan, head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, Liu Qi, secretary-general of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Wang Zhijun, deputy secretary-general of the State Council, and Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, delivered speeches.

The symposium was attended by members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and leading officials from the Standing Committee of the NPC, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission.

Also in attendance were those in charge of relevant departments of the Party, the government, the military and people's organizations, Beijing and Shanghai municipalities, along with Chen's relatives, former staff, and representatives from his hometown.