Teachers key for building stronger nation

President Xi Jinping has urged teachers across China to work for and contribute to the building of a stronger nation and help realize the goal of national rejuvenation.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a letter sent to representatives of outstanding teachers attending a symposium on Saturday in Beijing.

Sunday marked Teachers' Day this year. In his letter, Xi sent greetings to teachers and all those working in the education sector across the country on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

He noted that for a long time, teachers in the country, as represented by the outstanding members, have prepared a significant number of capable individuals who can take on important responsibilities.

Xi said that China has seen plenty of excellent teachers, and they have demonstrated the distinctive ethos of the country's educationists.

He expressed his hope for teachers nationwide to carry forward the high ideals of educationists, and make new and greater contributions to building China into a stronger country and to realizing the goal of national rejuvenation.

Premier Li Qiang also issued instructions to mark the occasion, and called for efforts to build the ability of teachers and improve the teachers' education system with Chinese characteristics.

Xi's letter has drawn wide acclaim from teachers and others working in the nation's education sector.

After listening to the letter, which was read out at the symposium, Gu Mingyuan, a 93-year-old senior professor at the Beijing Normal University, said the letter "fully reflects the great importance the CPC Central Committee attaches to education "and to the building of a teaching community where senior teachers mentor their successors.

Long Qingbo, head of the education bureau of Huishui county, Guizhou province, said that Xi's letter made him realize that an excellent teacher should "sow the seeds of wisdom in the hearts of students, so that every student has a chance to excel in life".