Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili has called for efforts to strengthen education on patriotism for students and to teach them to build up long-range ideals.

Chen also urged efforts to improve ideological and political work in schools and colleges while discussing with representatives from local institutions of higher learning during her inspection tour of Shanghai from May 4 to 6.

She said ideological and political work must be carried out in close combination with the efforts and care extended to improve students' school work, lives and psychological health and employment.

Chen encouraged school and college authorities to hold colorful cultural activities and teach students the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation, so as to cultivate and improve students' cultural quality.

On straightening out irregularities in local cyber cafes, Chen stressed that illegal cyber cafes must be shut down and managers permitting minors to enter cyber cafes and those spreading unhealthy information on-line should be dealt with harshly.

During her visit to the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Company, Chen encouraged local cultural workers to create more fine theater programs to attract young people and to make new contributions to carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2004)