The ongoing campaign to maintain the advanced nature of the Communist Party of China (CPC) members is a new practice for the Party's efforts to promote the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Zeng Qinghhong, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, remarked this at Wednesday's opening ceremony of the spring semester of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Zeng, president of the top Party academy, analyzed the domestic and international situation in his speech, and emphasized that China is now on a new historic starting point and facing both opportunities and challenges. He urged the Party School trainees to increase their abilities of observing the situation in a scientific way.

Over 1,800 people including senior Party officials He Guoqiang and Wang Gang attended the opening ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)