Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday China should promote development of philosophy and social sciences to help raise the ideals and morals of the public, and to improve their knowledge of science and culture.
The president, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour of the State-funded Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing.
Addressing a group of academicians and leading officials of the institution, Jiang said China's unprecedented determination to build a specifically Chinese type of socialism requires a powerful army of researchers in philosophy and social sciences.
It is important to have better understanding of the society and the world at large, Jiang said, adding that such understanding will enhance the reform and opening up to the outside world and the modernization drive, and will further the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Jiang stressed the need to study the practical issues facing the country's social development which called for improved theoretical research and new ideas in traditional social sciences and emerging theories.
Efforts are needed to make the progress in research of philosophy and social sciences part of the important forces behind China's correct understanding of the world, the president said.
Special efforts are also needed to create theoretical innovations and develop advanced cultures, for scientific and democratic decision-making for the country, and for accelerated reform and opening up and modernization drives, Jiang said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2002)
