Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has called on the whole Party to implement the Party's organizational line for the new era and make the Party stronger.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the national conference on organizational work, which was held here from Tuesday to Wednesday.
He required efforts to break new ground in "the great new project of Party building."
"In order to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, our party must have the courage to carry out self-reform to make the Party stronger," Xi said.
Xi stressed the importance of fostering competent officials who are loyal to the Party, have moral integrity, and demonstrate a keen sense of responsibility.
Also, measures should be taken to attract excellent, patriotic, and devoted people, Xi said.
He stressed adhering to the principle of selecting officials on the basis of both integrity and ability, with priority given to integrity, and on the basis of merit regardless of background.
These efforts would ensure a strong organizational guarantee for upholding and strengthening the overall Party leadership as well as upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, according to Xi.
Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting.
The CPC Central Committee has, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, put political building first place and the intra-Party political ecosystem has improved markedly, Xi said.
"The Party's ability to innovate, power to unite, and energy to fight have all been significantly strengthened, and the Party's engagement with the people has been greatly improved," he said.
Xi said that remarkable outcomes have been achieved in advancing full and strict governance over the Party since the 18th CPC National Congress, but there is still a long journey before a full success will be declared.
Speaking of the long-term and tough nature of the tests and dangers confronting the Party, Xi urged efforts to "comprehensively implement general requirements for Party building in the new era and continue to improve the efficacy of Party building."
"Efforts should be made to 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.
Xi said that the CPC Central Committee must have the authority of giving a final say while the fundamental task for local Party organizations is to ensure the implementation of CPC Central Committee decisions and arrangements.
Underlining the improvement of the Party's grassroots-level organizations, Xi said efforts should be made to enhance the Party's organizations in enterprises, rural areas, governments, public institutions and urban communities.
A priority of the Party's organizational work is to develop a good system to train, select, manage and assign officials, Xi said, noting that, when promoting and assigning an official, the criteria should be his or her integrity and merit, not background, and wether he or she is suitable for the position.
"Political integrity will be the foremost criterion for selecting officials," he said.
The Party will enhance internal supervision and develop a system to oversee officials concerning their faith, performance, working style and integrity, he said.
The key for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics is the Party and its cadres, Xi said.
In this regard, Xi called for a contingent of vibrant, competent and professional young officials who are loyal to the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Xi said these officials must have a firm faith, a strong will and a brave heart that will help them through setbacks and tough challenges.
Training and selection of outstanding young officials should target different fronts, areas and industries, and focus on cultivating versatile officials with professional background, Xi said.
"It is an unshirkable political responsibility of Party committees at all levels to care about healthy growth of young officials," he said.
He called for the formulation of long-term plans to identify, train and promote outstanding young officials in a timely manner.
Chen Xi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee Organization Department, stressed the "implementation of Xi's important thought on Party building and organizational work" in a concluding speech.
Chen stressed "resolutely safeguarding Xi's core status, and the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership."
