Authorities in southwestern Chongqing Municipality have announced a plan aimed at encouraging the public to learn dozens of selected songs that promote patriotism and socialist values. 

The move is seen as a display of the local government's determination to expand a high-profile campaign aimed at nurturing ties between its citizens and the Communist Party of China (CPC). 

A total of 36 "red songs" are being broadcast frequently on local television and have been uploaded onto major Web portals, while lyrics are being published in print media from April 10 to May 20 to make it easier to learn the songs, the Chongqing Daily reported, citing a government notice.

"We must use every means to earnestly organize singing lessons for all cadres and people in order to enrich the masses with spiritual culture," the notice said.

The campaign aims to enrich the public's spiritual and cultural lives by sending out musicians and musical educators to teach citizens and sing the songs with them, it said.

The songs are all contemporary works, and include "Country," performed by Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan and mainland singer Liu Yuanyuan in praise of the ties between every household and the fate of the entire country. 

"Red songs," or revolutionary songs, refer to those that have been composed to recognize the CPC's leadership in the revolution and struggle to found the People's Republic of China, according to People's Daily.

However, officials in Chongqing insist that learning "red songs" is not compulsory for citizens, and have advised people to update their understanding of the term.

"Some appear to have misunderstood the message in our campaign. It's not that everyone is required to sing and love the songs. What we are seeking is a wider participation," Xu Chao, a senior local official in charge of promoting "red" singing, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"It would be unrealistic for everybody to sing all 36 songs," he added.

"'Red' doesn't only represent revolution, communism or socialism. It also includes elements that represent happiness, harmony, being positive and healthy. The term is actually quite inclusive," Xu said.

Xu said the move would serve as new forms of entertainment for citizens and therefore has little to do with political propaganda.

Jiang Shuai, a graduate student at Southwest University in Chongqing, said singing the songs helps her cultivate taste and morals.

Special Coverage: 90th Anniversary of CPC

"I prefer those songs to pop music, as they always give me confidence and power when I hear or sing them," Jiang told the Global Times. "It's absolutely voluntary to join the singing activities, but the majority of the enthusiasts are seniors."

Yu Xiaosu, a 25-year-old Chongqing resident, told the Global Times that some of the revolutionary songs are well written and inspirational.

"But too much public exposure of the songs on TV and in other media may have a negative effect on their artistic appreciation," Yu said.

Cui Zhiyuan, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy and Management, told the 21st Century Business Herald that singing "red songs" in Chongqing is one method the ruling party is using to search for the right social value system amid various conflicts arising as a result of social transformation.

"Chongqing is exploring and finding ways to let the public share the advantages of socialism, and 'red' singing is one of them," Cui said, adding that with 70 to 80 percent of its population made up of rural residents, the municipality is basically a microcosm of China.

Han Buxin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the campaign appears to have some political implications that can help local authorities win support, both among the public and higher officials in the central government.

"However, the money used to launch such campaigns would have a better effect by using it in other fields such as increasing infrastructure construction," Han said.

The municipality launched its "red song" campaign on June 30, 2008, as part of a momentous Red Culture Movement proposed by Bo Xilai, party chief in Chongqing.

"Red songs won public support because they depicted China's path in a simple, sincere and vivid way," Bo said at a meeting in November.

"There's no need to be artsy-fartsy," Bo said. "Only dilettantes prefer enigmatic works."

The promotion of the 36 songs in Chongqing is part of national celebration of the CPC's 90th birthday. Tianjin, Shanxi Province and other parts of China recently began similar drives ahead of the anniversary, reports said.

Huang Jingjing and Zhang Han contributed to this story