President: Nurture young officials to strengthen Party

President Xi Jinping has called for building a group of young and dynamic officials who are professional and loyal to the Party to help the Communist Party of China become stronger.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark at a national conference on organization work held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He said the Party must exercise overall leadership over the nation's organization work to provide solid support for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Upholding and strengthening the Party's leadership in the Party's organization work is of crucial importance, Xi said.

Xi highlighted the importance of the Party building, saying political building is of utmost importance.

Remarkable progress has been made in the full and strict governance of the Party since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, he said. However, Xi said, long-term risks and tests still face the Party, and problems that weaken the Party's advanced nature and purity remain unresolved.

Strict discipline must be implemented and corrupt behaviors must be severely punished, he added.

The Party must strengthen its awareness of risks and responsibilities and carry out self-governance in thoroughness, Xi said.

He called for strengthening the grassroots Party organizations, saying it is crucial to exercise strict governance.

Xi said realizing national rejuvenation and upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics depend on Party building and competent successors in the Party.

A group of young, energized and competent officials must be nurtured in the new era, he said, adding that the criteria for leading officials are that they must be responsible, clean, loyal to the Party and honest in implementing the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi urged government departments across the country to train and select a proper number of outstanding young officials based on short-term demands and long-term strategy and let them shoulder responsibilities.

It should be incumbent on Party committees at various levels to take responsibility in identifying, training and selecting outstanding young officials, he said.

Xi called for improving selection and training mechanisms, saying evaluation procedures and incentive systems for talent should also be improved.