China is making significant strides in boosting its cultural development and enhancing the cultural appeal of Chinese civilization, with deeper integration of culture and tourism, booming development of culture industries such as video games, talk shows and online dramas, as well as innovative public cultural services such as virtual exhibitions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, underscored the significance of enhancing cultural development on Monday, urging more efforts to build the country into a cultural powerhouse by 2035.

During a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi emphasized the importance of drawing from China's rich cultural heritage while leveraging information technology to meet the diverse cultural needs of the population, thereby laying a solid cultural foundation for national development and rejuvenation.

"We have placed cultural advancement in a prominent position in the governance of the country since the 18th CPC National Congress," Xi said, noting that major arrangements have been made, which collectively form the framework for socialist culture with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Zhao Wei, an associate professor at Beijing Jiaotong University, explains that a cultural powerhouse is defined by three main characteristics: high cultural literacy among its citizens, a well-developed cultural industry, and significant international cultural soft power.