President Xi Jinping has called on the China Media Group (CMG) and people working in the television circle nationwide to strive for building world-class new mainstream media with strong guidance, coverage and influence.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked the CMG to be bold in its reform and innovation, and strengthen mainstream public opinion, in a congratulatory letter on the 60th anniversary of China Central Television (CCTV).

The CMG is a new broadcasting platform made up of CCTV, China National Radio and China Radio International.

This year is also the 60th anniversary of television broadcasting following the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi in the letter extended his sincere greetings to officials and staff of the CMG and people working in the television sector.

Identifying television as an important part of the Party's media work, Xi highlighted television workers' contributions to the cause of the Party and the people.

Under the leadership of the Party, those workers over the past 60 years have been maintaining the correct political orientation and the right tone, while focusing on the major task, serving the overall interests of the country, advocating the Party's ideas, conveying the people's aspirations and spreading mainstream values and positive energy, said Xi.

Xi also noted the achievements of CMG since its establishment in March, especially in regard to promoting in-depth integration and innovation in international communication to present a true, multi-dimensional and panoramic view of China.

Xi said he hopes that CMG and television workers across the country can uphold Party leadership, take a people-centered approach and faithfully fulfill their responsibilities and missions.

Xi also called on those workers to integrate radio and television, domestic publicity and international communication, and traditional and new media, as well as improve their international communication capabilities.

Xi's letter was read out at a commemorative meeting held in Beijing on Wednesday.

When addressing the meeting, Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, asked television workers to attentively study and implement Xi's instructions and consciously shoulder new responsibilities and missions, so as to contribute more to the cause of the Party and the state.

Established on May 1, 1958, CCTV now has 41 channels with an annual broadcasting time of 329,000 hours. It is also the only television station in the world that incessantly engages in international communication with the six working languages of the United Nations.