Update | China starts massive promotion of Xi Jinping’s ‘four comprehensives’ political theory

State media has given widespread coverage to President Xi Jinping's political theory ahead of the national parliamentary session, advancing his vision for governing China.

The Communist Party's official mouthpiece People's Daily devoted a 2,000-character front-page editorial to the "Four Comprehensives" theory that Xi has advocated since he came to power two years ago.

The theory refers to "comprehensively" building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, governing the country according to rule by law, and enforcing strict party discipline.

Mainland media has given extensive coverage to the "Chinese dream" - a term Xi coined shortly after he came to power - and the latest elaboration of the four comprehensives reinforces a tradition of party leaders cementing their ideas into theories.

Though the catchphrases are often vaguely defined, they are cited by cadres at all levels to pledge their support to the party's policies and are seen as an attempt by leaders to establish their legacy.

Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao introduced his "scientific outlook on development" as the party's guiding socio-economic principle. Former president Jiang Zemin introduced his "three represents" theory, referring to social productive forces, cultural development and the fundamental interests of the majority, in 2000. Both Hu and Jiang's theories are enshrined in the nation's constitution.

State broadcaster CCTV featured the People's Daily editorial as its main news programme's fifth item, while the full editorial - the first of five to be published - was also run by Xinhua and local party newspapers around the nation.