A meeting of top regional publicity officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has called for increased efforts to carry out reforms in the country's media and publishing sector.
Ding Guangen, member of the Political Bureau and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a keynote speech at the conference held in Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province, between October 30 and November 2.
Top publicity officials from 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions took part in the conference.
Officials attending the meeting praised the sector for successfully handling major publicity events so far this year, including the party's 80th anniversary of its foundation, the sixth plenum of the 15th CPC Central Committee, Beijing's win of hosting the 2008 Olympic Games and the Shanghai meetings of the Asia-Pacifc Economic Cooperation.
Officials agreed that a restructuring of the sector is both necessary and urgent in order to make media organizations and publishers stronger, more vigorous and competitive.
They pledged their support for exploring ways to ensure the political correctness and economic dynamism of publicity organizations in the new circumstances.
(People's Daily November 5, 2001)