A senior Chinese leader Monday urged the country's Marxism researchers to enhance research on the application of Marxist theory in China and put forward sound theories for China's development.

"Results of the research should be able to enhance the appeal and influence of Marxism," said Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee at a work conference on Marxism Theory Research and Construction Project held in Beijing.

Li called the project, which has been in implementation for a year, a major theoretical innovation project and an important component of the drive to build China into an innovation-oriented country.

"People expect the project to provide theoretical guidance to the building of a well-off society in an all-round way," he said.

"The profound changes of international situation propels us to constantly develop Marxism and the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said.

The project is expected to advance construction of the relevant academic system and compiling of relevant textbooks.

Over the past year, Li said, Chinese researchers have made progress in theoretical research on the application of Marxist theory in China and in research on some major theoretical and practical issues.

Translation and editing work of Marxism classics also went smoothly in the past year, said Li.

After a year's research work, said Li, people have further realized the significance of the project.

He called the project a major measure to promote prosperity of philosophy and social sciences, a foundation work for consolidating the guiding role of Marxism in the ideology sphere and a strategic project to enhance party-building and consolidate the governance role of the party.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2006)