Importance of cultural development

President Xi Jinping met more than 600 individuals selected for their outstanding work promoting the country's cultural and ethical progress at a ceremony to honor them in Beijing on Friday.

To show his particular concern and respect for two senior attendees who have dedicated their lives to building the nation, Xi took them by the hand and invited them to sit with him for a group picture, a touching moment that triggered great applause.

The remarks Xi made at the conference encouraging them to make new contributions, and his display of respect to them, show the importance attached by China's new leadership with Xi at the core to the building of a modern socialist civilization and sounded a clarion call to advance the cause.