On Tuesday a call went out to all party members from Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, to study the Selected Works of former party chief Jiang Zemin in line with a decision taken by the CPC Central Committee.

"The publication and issue of the Selected Works of Jiang Zemin is a major event in the political life of the party and state," said Hu, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He spoke at a meeting on the study of the works.

Other Chinese top leaders Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun and Luo Gan were also in attendance.

Hu ordered all localities and departments to "concretely" implement the CPC Central Committee decision to scrutinize the works. He said studying the Selected Works of Jiang Zemin was an important task in the party's ideological and political work, the theoretical study and training of party members and cadres currently and in the future.

Studying the words of Jiang Zemin "should be included in the training program for party members and cadres above the county head level," said Hu.

The Selected Works of Jiang Zemin, compiled by the Party Literature Editing Committee, have been published and issued across the country. They consist of Jiang's major works from the late 1980s through the early period of the 21st century.

Hu called the works "the best textbook" for studying the important thoughts of the "Three Represents" in an in-depth way and for further pushing forward "the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics" and building the party.

As the core of the CPC third-generation leadership, Jiang initiated the thinking that the CPC must always represent the development requirements of China's advanced social productive forces, the progressive course of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people--known as the "Three Represents".

Hu said the important thoughts of "Three Represents", which reflect the common aspirations of the Chinese people and the spirit of development of today's world and China, were guiding principles to be observed in the long term.

The most salient feature and most outstanding contribution of the important thoughts of the "Three Represents", said Hu, was that they further answered the questions of what socialism is and how to build it. There were also questions concerning party-building as well as insights into the laws of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and strengthening party-building in new times.

Hu noted thoughts contained in the "Three Represents", included working for the fundamental interests of the absolute majority of the people, making development the primary task of the party in governing the country, adhering to and improving the basic economic system with public ownership playing a dominant role and diverse forms of ownership developing side by side and building socialist political civilization and developing socialist democracy.

He said the writings vividly recorded the historical process of China's development under the CPC third-generation leadership with Jiang Zemin at the core.

Hu said it was a period when China experienced marked growth in the comprehensive national strength, the people's rising living standards, the return of Hong Kong and Macao, long-term social stability and unity and rising international influence.

Reviewing this period of history was of great significance to strengthening people's determination and trust in pursuing the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, he said.

Hu said the works summarized the valuable experiences of the party in pushing forward the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics. They also reflected new major theoretical achievements the party had made through combining the basic principles of Marxism with contemporary practice in China and features of the times.

"We will continue to guide Party members and people to learn the Deng Xiaoping Theory and Jiang's important thoughts on "Three Represents", continue to take development as the primary task for the Party and government, continue to vigorously develop the advanced socialist culture and unswervingly build a harmonious socialist society," Hu said.

China's development was for the people and by the people, Hu added, saying that all Party members should stick to the principles of governance for the people and constantly maintain the vanguard characters of the Party.

Jiang, born on Aug. 17, 1926, was former general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2006)