Xi pushes unified thinking ahead of crucial party meeting
Amid fierce debate over the future political direction, president calls for propaganda push to renew country's focus on Marxist ideology
President and Communist Party chief Xi Jinping has on called propaganda officials to present more a cohesive message to cadres and the public.
The call comes amid intensifying debate over the nation's future in the run-up to a crucial party meeting in the autumn and just days before the trial of former Politburo member Bo Xilai is set to begin.
Xi made the appeal in a speech delivered to a national conference on ideology and propaganda held in Beijing on Monday and yesterday. It was attended by top central and regional party ideology officials, media censors and regulators.
In recent months, reformists have been locked in a debate with leftists over the merits of constitutionalism - where power is checked by higher laws - versus supreme party authority.
Before his fall from grace last March, Bo championed a "red" campaign pushing Maoist nostalgia, and his trial will be closely watched for how the party treats corruption among its own.
Analysts said Xi had shown greater interest in party ideology of late.
"Xi appears to be more eager now than before in taking charge of ideological work," said Zhang Lifan, a political affairs analyst formerly with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.