President Xi Jinping has called on scholars to research Party building and to contribute to the Marxist theory system with Chinese characteristics.

The remarks by Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, were outlined in a written instruction presented to a National Society for Party Building Studies (NSPBS) conference.

Xi urged the NSPBS to adhere to the right political direction, play its role in studying Party building as a leading think tank, and undertake studies on the theoretical and practical issues of Party building.

Researchers were asked to summarize the Party's experience in strictly running the CPC, and make new contributions to boost construction of the Marxist Party building theory system with Chinese features, strengthen and improve the CPC leadership, and ensure the Party's unwavering core leadership in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

While meeting with representatives at the conference, Liu Yunshan, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, called for a thorough implementation of Xi's instruction as they expounded the roles and principles of Party building studies.

Party building studies must be systematic and follow the correct political path, said Liu.

Liu called on the NSPBS to make study plans and research that reflect the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and to improve Marxist Party building theory with Chinese characteristics.

The studies should draw on China's experience of Party building since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, providing a theoretical basis for improving Party building under the current situation, Liu added.

When addressing the conference, Zhao Leji, head of the CPC Central Committee organization department, stressed how important it was to cultivate rising talent in Party building studies, as this would support the CPC mission to comprehensively and strictly govern itself.

The conference recognized excellent research achievements and works in Party building in 2015, and will elect new members of the NSPBS council.