President Xi Jinping called on the country's cultural workers and artists to focus on the people during their cultural creation work, thereby providing strong spiritual power for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in a recent instruction on the country's building of spiritual civilization.

Noting that culture is the bugle for the progress of the times, Xi said that the country's cultural workers and artists should work for the people and socialism. He encouraged cultural workers and artists to boost innovation, be dedicated and make continuous efforts to produce excellent creations.

Xi's instruction was delivered at a seminar held in Beijing on Wednesday to compliment cultural workers and artists on their excellent output, including TV series, films, dramas, songs, essays and books. A total of 67 products and 16 organizations were given compliments.

Since the compliment project was launched more than two decades ago, a large number of excellent cultural products have been made, setting an example for the creation of spiritual products and enriching the people's spiritual lives, he said.

The cultural workers and artists should answer the call of the people and the times, submit positive energy and build up China's image to boost the people's confidence, and encourage them to strive for the Chinese Dream of the country's rejuvenation, he added.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said at the seminar that Xi's instruction is an important guideline for the country's cultural work.

The cultural workers and artists should learn and implement the president's culture and art thoughts, devote themselves to cultural creation, and make more excellent cultural products, he said.

Liu told the cultural workers and artists to tell more stories of the historical progress made after the CPC's 18th National Congress five years ago, get to the grassroots to listen to the people, and make good circumstances for the Party's 19th National Congress, set for Oct 18.