Hu Jintao, state president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has called for upholding the great banner of Marxist Theory, to agglomerate the whole Party and the whole people to strive for the lofty ideal and goal.

Hu made the call Wednesday, while meeting with the participants of a central working conference on the implementation of the project of studying and building Marxist Theory. Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, was present during the meeting.

Hu termed the conference a very important one, saying that it is of great significance for the promotion of studying and building Marxist Theory.

New changes have occurred in all fields in the world and China is also facing new tasks, situations and problems, according to Hu. The Central Authorities have decided to launch the project of studying and building Marxist Theory as the country is facing new tasks, situations and problems in reform and development, while the whole world has witnessed a series of new changes, contradictions and problems in all fields.

Hu spoke highly of ideological workers in China who have contributed to studying major theoretical and practical issues, with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the important thought of "Three Represents" as the guidance.

He urged them to further emancipate their thinking, seek truth from facts, keep pace with the changes of the times, and make new, greater contributions to the development of Marxism in China and to building an overall well-off society and opening up a new situation for the socialist cause with China's own characteristics.

The conference was convened on April 27-28. Li Changchun addressed the conference and urged the participants to study Hu's important speech, saying that Hu's speech is of great importance for stepping up the study and building of Marxist Theory.

Greater efforts should be made in the translation and study of classic works of Marxism and publishing textbooks that could completely reflect the philosophy of Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the "Three Represents".

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2004)