China issued the 16th China Journalism Awards and the 7th Changjiang Taofen Awards on Wednesday, to celebrate the 7th China Journalist Day.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, attended the gathering and handed out the top awards.

Liu Yunshan, member of both of the Politburo and Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a key-note speech at the gathering, calling on journalists to give top priority to studying the essence of the recent Sixth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee.

He called on journalists to "give powerful ideological and public support for building a harmonious society."

Present at the meeting were State-councilor Chen Zhili and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Chen Kuiyuan.

Tian Congming, president of the Xinhua News Agency and chairman of the All-China Journalists Association, also delivered a speech.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)