BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, sent a congratulatory letter on Sept. 4 to a popular children's program of China Media Group named Xiaolaba, or Little Trumpet, on the 70th anniversary of the program's premiere.

In his letter, Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, expressed his appreciation for the program's persistent commitment to "telling good stories to children" and accompanying generations of youngsters for their healthy growth over the past 70 years.

Xi emphasized that from this new starting point, the staff of the program as well as the broad ranks of children's literary and art professionals are expected to deliver on the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, keep pace with the pulse of the times, cultivate the fertile soil of children's culture, and dedicate the mind and passion to creating more excellent works that promote truth, goodness and beauty and are beloved by children.

Xi urged the team and related professionals to make greater contributions to nurturing new generations of capable youngsters who can help build up and carry on the socialist cause with well-rounded development in terms of moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility and work skills.

Premiered on Sept. 4, 1956, Xiaolaba is the first radio broadcast program of New China fully dedicated to preschool children. It has now developed into a famed brand that integrates radio, television, new media, and on-campus broadcasting.