BEIJING -- On the morning of Nov 20, the Communist Party of China Central Committee held a symposium at the Great Hall of the People to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Comrade Hu Yaobang's birth. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech, urging efforts to learn from Hu's noble spirit and exemplary conduct earnestly, remain true to the original aspiration, keep the mission firmly in mind, remain confident in our history, exhibit greater historical initiative, and press ahead with all undertakings with indomitable will.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the symposium. Li Xi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting.

In his speech, Xi reviewed Hu's brilliant life and outstanding contributions. Xi noted that Hu was a time-honored and loyal communist fighter, a great proletarian revolutionary and statesman, an outstanding political worker of our army, and an exceptional leader who held important leading positions in the Party for a long time. He made indelible contributions to national independence and liberation, socialist revolution and construction, reform and opening up, and the socialist modernization drive.

Xi stressed that Hu harbored lofty aspirations and demonstrated an indomitable revolutionary will in his long-term practice of unremittingly striving for communism. Xi urged all Party members to follow his example in firming up their ideals and convictions, remaining unwaveringly loyal to the Party, actively engaging in the drive for Chinese modernization, and striving hard to achieve grand ideals and shared aspirations.

Xi pointed out that Hu placed great emphasis on proceeding from reality in all matters and made significant contributions to adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and rectifying the Party's organizational line. Xi called on all Party members to emulate his example in adhering to seeking truth from facts and unswervingly pursuing truth, arming their minds with the Party's innovative theories of their own accord, and harnessing them to guide their practice and advance their work, so as to demonstrate the power of Marxist truth in advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Xi stressed that Hu actively championed and advanced reform and opening up, and devoted enormous energy to socialist modernization. All Party members should follow his example by standing at the forefront of our times and forging ahead with determination to pursue reform and innovation, further deepening reforms comprehensively with a spirit of taking on tough challenges, continuously liberating and developing social productive forces, and unleashing and enhancing social vitality, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that Hu had sincere and profound affection for the people, and he did numerous practical and good deeds for developing the economy and improving people's lives as quickly as possible. All Party members should follow his example by always concerning ourselves about the people and ensuring that benefits are shared by all, being consciously committed to the Party's fundamental purpose, and following the Party's mass line in the new era, Xi said. Through solid and persistent efforts, we must continuously enhance people's sense of gain, happiness and security, he added.

Xi emphasized that Hu placed great emphasis on rectifying Party conduct and set a shining example in carrying on the Party's glorious traditions and fine conduct. All Party members must follow his example by maintaining integrity and setting a good example in whatever we do, persist in implementing the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving conduct, fight against misconduct and corruption, and always be clean and upright as a true communist should be, Xi said.

Chairing the symposium, Cai Qi said that General Secretary Xi Jinping in his important speech reviewed Hu's indelible contributions to the Party and the people and called on all Party members to learn from his noble spirit and exemplary conduct. Cai stressed that the speech carried immense political, ideological, and guiding significance and that it must be earnestly studied, understood, and implemented. He emphasized the need to more closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Affirmations," strengthen awareness of the "Four Consciousnesses" and the "Four Confidences," and act on the "Two Upholds." Cai said that all efforts should be made to pool wisdom and strength, forge ahead with enterprise, and strive to build a strong country and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

During the symposium, speeches were given by Qu Qingshan, head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, Huang Jianfa, vice minister (in charge of daily work) of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xie Chuntao, vice president (in charge of daily work) of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), A Dong, first secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Youth League of China Central Committee, and Shen Xiaoming, secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee.

The symposium was attended by Shi Taifeng, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, Li Hongzhong, Chen Wenqing, Liu Jinguo, Wang Xiaohong and Zhang Shengmin.

Also in attendance were leading officials of central Party and government departments, the military, people's organizations, as well as Hunan Province, leading officials of non-CPC political parties' central committees and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of personages without party affiliation, as well as Hu's family members, friends in his lifetime and hometown representatives.