Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday asked senior officials to consistently uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and promote the "great new project of Party building."

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the opening of a workshop attended by newly-elected members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee, as well as provincial and ministerial-level officials, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 5, 2018. The workshop is focused on the study and implementation of "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the opening of a workshop attended by newly-elected members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee, as well as provincial and ministerial-level officials.

The workshop is focused on the study and implementation of "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress.

Xi said that CPC Central Committee members and provincial and ministerial-level officials are "crucial" to the sound governance of the Party and the country.

He called on the officials to raise their political awareness, adopt a historical perspective, reinforce theoretical thinking, think in big-picture terms and improve their knowledge and intellectual attainments, so as to think and understand major theoretical and practical issues with broader perspectives.

"Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era must be upheld consistently as it is both the achievement and continuation of the people's great social revolutions led by the CPC," Xi said. "Both history and reality have proved that a long historical process is needed for a social revolution to be declared a final victory."

"We can grasp the essence of many problems only by looking back the path we have taken, comparing it with others' path and looking to the road ahead -- understanding where we came from and where are going," he said.

Socialism with Chinese characteristics does not drop from the sky, but comes out of 40 years of reform and opening up and the practice of exploration since the establishment of the People's Republic of China nearly 70 years ago, Xi said.

It is also the result of the 97-year practice of the people's great social revolutions under the CPC leadership, the 170-plus-year historical process during which the Chinese nation has become prosperous from decline, and the inheritance and development of Chinese civilization in the past 5,000-plus years, he added.

"It is extremely difficult to achieve this outcome," the president said.

The success of scientific socialism in China is of great importance for Marxism, scientific socialism and socialism across the world. It is most fundamental for the CPC to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics so as to realize its historic mission in the new era, Xi said.

"To remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, we should not forget that we are communists and revolutionaries and should not lose revolutionary spirit," Xi said.

"The success yesterday does not mean that we can be always successful, and the glory of the past does not mean that the future can always be glorious," Xi said, adding that CPC members are like exam-takers and their results will be reviewed by the people.

All members of the Party should keep the revolutionary spirit and be brave to ensure the 97-year social revolutions achieve prosperity and enduring peace and stability, Xi said.

"The Party must not take pride in victory nor retreat from difficulty," Xi said, urging efforts for a more powerful of truth to be heard from socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Party should have the courage to carry out self-reform and become stronger in order to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, he said. "To have the courage to carry out self-reform and conduct strict self-governance is the most distinctive part of our Party's character."

The great new project of Party building plays a decisive role in realizing the country's great cause and dream, he added.

The CPC should promote social revolutions led by the Party by self-reform, and build the Party into a vibrant Marxist governing party that is always at the forefront of the times, enjoys the wholehearted support of the people, has the courage to reform itself, and is able to withstand all tests, Xi said.

He urged the Party to consolidate basis, innovate, grasp the key points and judge from the overall situation to push forward the great new project of Party building in the new era.