Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday called for "vigorous development and enrichment of socialist culture." [More about Hu's speech]

Efforts should be made to steadily increase the whole nation's "cultural creativity" and "let people enjoy richer and more colorful cultural life" so as to ensure their cultural rights and interests, said Hu, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a grand gathering marking the 90th anniversary of the CPC.

Improving socialist core values should be incorporated into the entire process of national education, cultural and ethical progress and Party building, Hu said.

"We will vigorously promote the national spirit centered on patriotism and a spirit of the times with reform and innovation at its core, and enhance self-respect, confidence and pride of the Chinese nation," he said.

Hu said the Party will use "the socialist concept of honor and disgrace" to guide public conduct, intensify efforts to cultivate public morale, professional ethics, family values and personal ethics, strengthen moral education among young people and foster inspiring cultural pursuits and healthy, civilized lifestyles in society.

The CPC will speed up the reform of the cultural sector, accelerate the building of a system of public cultural services and develop cultural programs and the cultural industry, he said.