Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Friday urged Communist Party of China (CPC) cadres to combine the spirit of "scientific development" with the nation's endeavors to deal with current economic problems.

Xi addressed a meeting in Beijing, at which a group of heads of agencies of the CPC Central Committee and the central government discussed how to implement the Scientific Outlook on Development.

Xi said the ongoing campaign to educate Party cadres on the Scientific Outlook on Development should focus on how to maintain a steady economic growth, despite global economic woes, through more scientific and efficient work.

He said this was desirable because the ultimate goal of the campaign was that China achieve sustainable, broad-based development under the leadership of the CPC.

The Scientific Outlook on Development represents important guiding principles for China's economic and social development. It was initiated by the CPC in 2003 and written into the CPC's constitution during the 17th National Congress of the Party in 2007.

The principles emphasize a people-first approach, while requiring comprehensive and sustainable development with a dual emphasis on speed and quality.

In September, the CPC launched an 18-month educational campaign, asking all Party cadres and officials to study the principles while applying them in their own work.

Xi Jinping said the annual Central Economic Work Conference, which concluded on Wednesday, had made a full plan on maintaining stable and healthy growth next year through domestic demand expansion and economic restructuring.

He said central government organs, often as key policy makers, should check whether shortcomings in their own work had hindered the implementation of the key policies.

"At present the top task for us is to identify and solve those shortcomings that could have negative impacts on economic growth, vital interest of the people and social stability," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2008)