The essence of "Three Represents" was that the CPC should dedicate itself to the interests of the public and govern for the people's benefit, Hu said in a speech to a three-day symposium on the "Three Represents" thought, which opened here Tuesday morning to mark the 82nd founding anniversary of the CPC.

The ultimate aim of launching the new wave was to improve the CPC's capability to lead the people in the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, said Hu.

Members of the CPC's top decision-making body, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Wu Bangguo, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun, who presided over the symposium, and Luo Gan attended the event.

Presented by Hu's predecessor, Jiang Zemin, who is now chairman of the Central Military Commission, in February 2000, the "Three Represents" thought states that the CPC must always represent "the development trend of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people."

Hu told the symposium the important thought of "Three Represents" was Marxism developed to suit China's reality in the 21st century, and a fundamental guideline for the CPC and the entire Chinese people to learn from the past and advance into the future, keep pace with the times and build a well-off society in an all-round way.

The important thought contained a scientific forecast of the trend of China's modernization drive, a magnificent blueprint and a whole set of strategies for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and a scientific judgment of the force to depend upon in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. It also put forward strategic guidelines and policies regarding China's diplomacy, and the overall arrangement for Party building, Hu said.

Hu urged officials at various levels to set their minds to serving the people wholeheartedly and relying on the people in their work.

Officials should always keep the safety and livelihood of the people in their minds and conscientiously implements the policies of the Party and government to lift the needy out of poverty and difficulty, he added.

Hu said the study and implementation of the important thought of "Three Represents" was a major political task for the Party and the nation.

Launching the new wave of studying and implementing the important thought was a strategic decision made at the 16th National Congress of the CPC. Officials at all levels should assume exemplary roles for the whole society in studying and implementing the important thought and rally the people around the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way, he said.

Hu said that, with relentless efforts, China had brought severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) under effective control and the national economy had maintained relatively fast growth.

He attributed the success primarily to the unity and heroic struggle of the whole Party and the whole nation.

Hu urged conscientious efforts in summarizing the valuable experience of the anti-SARS campaign and strengthening the construction of a public health system and rapid response mechanism.

Approved by the CPC Central Committee, the symposium was jointly sponsored by the Department of Publicity and Party School of CPC Central Committee, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, among other organizations.

More than 800 people, including leading officials from the central authorities and all provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, commanding officers of major army and armed police units based in Beijing, as well as experts and scholars, participated in the symposium.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2003)