Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed further advancing the study and implementation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to push for new progress and breakthroughs in the Chinese path to modernization.

While presiding over a group study session on Thursday of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee — the Party's central decision-making body — Xi urged officials to excel in using the Thought to strengthen political leadership, enhance strategic pillars, expand paths of practice and solve problems in development.

In doing so, the Chinese characteristics of the Chinese path to modernization can be more prominent, its strengths more distinctive and prospects even brighter, he said.

Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, He Weidong and Chen Min'er, all members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, shared their understanding of studying and applying the Thought during the group study session.

The session was held on the same day that the Political Bureau adopted a decision to launch a thematic campaign for the entire Party to study and implement the Thought starting from April.

Xi said that the study session was held to set a good example for the entire Party to study and implement the Thought and strengthen the ideological and theoretical foundation.

He pointed out that it is the key experience for the CPC to create history and achieve brilliance by arming the whole Party with the latest outcomes from adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and using them to guide practice and promote work.

He noted that the Party is faced with complex situations both at home and abroad on the new journey in the new era, with challenging tasks related to domestic reform, development and stability, as well as uncertain and unpredictable risks and challenges lying ahead.

To fulfill the strategic goals set at the 20th CPC National Congress, it is imperative that all Party members and officials, especially senior officials, further advance their study and implementation of the Thought, Xi said.

The general secretary encouraged officials to be good at using the Thought to solve various contradictions and problems in socioeconomic development, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy, accelerate steps to foster a new development pattern, advance high-quality growth and promote common prosperity.

It is important to use the Thought to prevent and defuse major risks, be more mindful of potential dangers, stay prepared to deal with worst-case scenarios and resolutely prevent various risks from getting out of control, Xi said.

He highlighted the need to utilize the theory to advance the Party's full and rigorous self-governance, saying that efforts must be made to solve emerging and deep-rooted problems and ensure that the Party never changes its nature, conviction or character.