Propaganda tsar Ding Guangen has told writers and artists to stop putting out 'smog' and produce more quality work for the public.
Mr Ding, a protege of Communist Party boss Jiang Zemin said the decade-old 'Daqing spirit' should remain the guiding light for artists in their work.
He was referring to the old industrial base Daqing Oilfield in Heilongjiang - long hailed as an example of state-owned enterprises where workers laboured in their pursuit of socialist ideals and public good.
Following a visit to the Daqing Oilfield, Mr Ding said: 'We need the Daqing spirit in the past, today and we will need it in the future.' In talks with propaganda officials in Harbin, Mr Ding said cadres should help artists to solve problems they encountered in their daily lives. But much remained to be done and he urged officials to provide proper guidelines for artists to stand firm in defending socialism.
Mr Ding, who heads the Communist Party's Propaganda Department, called on writers and artists to guard against corrupt influences and take a responsible attitude to the party and the public.
'Artists should strive to improve the quality of their work and give their best to the public,' he said.
