The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is calling to promote the development of military culture and arts, so as to "give ideological, spiritual and cultural support to the army in carrying out its historic mission."

Speaking at a workshop in Beijing on Friday, Xu Caihou, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Central Military Commission (CMC) vice chairman, urged military artists to study the relevant instructions made by Hu Jintao, State president, CPC central committee general secretary and CMC chairman.

Hu, who called for developing an advanced military culture in an innovative way in his instructions, has pointed out the direction for the work of the army's cultural workers and artists, Xu said. The military cultural workers and artists should become a main force and pioneers in the development of China's socialist culture, he stressed.

Li Jinai, a CMC member and PLA General Political Department head, also attended the workshop.

At the gathering, 65 individuals were honored as "advanced military cultural workers and artists."

In related development, the PLA Painting and Calligraphy Institute was founded in this national capital on the same day.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2008)