"Literature and art are the sparks of the national spirit, and also the guiding lights that lead the national spirit forward." In his article "On Opening One's Eyes to See" in the year, Mr. Lu Xun made this profound assertion about the crucial role of literature and art. On multiple occasions, he repeatedly emphasized the clear proposition that "to transform the spiritual world of the people, literature and art should be the first priority."

In the re-publication of President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the Symposium on Literary and Artistic Work on October 15, 2014, in the 2023 issue of the "Qiushi" magazine, the President forthrightly and resoundingly put forward this significant proposition. Focusing on the overall development of the Party and the country and the global trends, from the strategic height of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation requiring the flourishing development of Chinese culture, President Xi reviewed both ancient and modern times, as well as domestic and foreign contexts, profoundly elucidating the significant role and far-reaching impact of culture and literature and art on a nation and the progress of human civilization. He emphatically stressed: "Culture is a vital force for the survival and development of a nation"; "Without the flourishing development of Chinese culture, there can be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation"; "Without the active guidance of advanced culture, the immense enrichment of the people's spiritual world, and the continuous enhancement of national spiritual strength, a country or a nation cannot stand tall in the community of nations"; "The raising of the banner of spirit, the establishment of spiritual pillars, and the construction of spiritual homes all离不开文艺"; "When skyscrapers stand tall across the land of our country, the spiritual edifice of the Chinese nation should also stand tall"; "In achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the role of literature and art is irreplaceable, and literary and artistic workers have much to contribute." These important discussions, with profound insights and thought-provoking, have elevated our Party's understanding of literature, art, and their work to a new realm.

This profound understanding of the status and role of literature and art took root in President Xi Jinping's life from an early stage. At the age of five or six, he learned the story of "Yue Fei's Mother Tattooing" from a set of picture books his mother bought for him, which deeply moved him and he remembered it for life. As he grew older, he developed a great fondness for ancient classics such as "Records of the Three Kingdoms," "Ancient Poetry Source," "Records of the Historian," and "War and Peace," from which he absorbed rich spiritual nourishment. It was precisely because of such profound insights that, whether during his years as an educated youth or his time working at the grassroots level, he always held culture and literature and art in high regard, paying close attention to them and giving them great importance.

During his time working in Liangjiahe, he "searched everywhere for books and read them," and even walked miles to borrow a long-desired "Faust." "I read all the literary classics I could find at that time." During his tenure in Zhengding, he often engaged in late-night discussions with friends about literature and life, forming a deep friendship with writer Jia Dashan. After Jia Dashan's passing, he wrote the heartfelt piece "Remembering Dashan" in the year of his death. He organized the compilation of the book "Zhengding: Past and Present," personally selected the title and wrote the preface. He coordinated extensively and exerted great effort to establish the "Grand View Garden" as a permanent structure, leaving a tangible and perceptible legacy for the promotion and dissemination of the timeless classic "Dream of the Red Chamber."

During his tenure in Fujian, he guided and promoted the production of the television music film "Symphony of Mountains and Seas: Ode to Mindong"; composed "Nian Nu Jiao: In Memory of Jiao Yulu," expressing his reverence for the exemplary county party secretary and articulating his ideals and aspirations for governing for the people and benefiting the populace. While governing Zhejiang, he wrote under the pen name "Zhexin" in the "Zhijiang New Talk" column of Zhejiang Daily, effortlessly quoting passages from "The Book of Rites," "Zuo Zhuan," "The Strategies of the Warring States," and "Records of the Grand Historian"; he gave lectures to university students, familiar with Chinese and foreign classics such as "The Great Learning," "Mencius," "Zizhi Tongjian," "Pensées," and "How the Steel Was Tempered"; he cared for and valued local operas, promoting new developments in the art of Yue Opera, Kunqu Opera, and Wuju Opera; he chaired meetings to specifically study the work of the China Academy of Art, contributing ideas for building it into a "world-class art academy."

During his tenure as the leader of Shanghai, he was dedicated to transforming the city into a "metropolis of culture where great masters of culture and art converge"; he emphasized that cultural and artistic workers "should grasp the rhythm of the times, integrate their personal artistic pursuits into the grand current of national development, and embed the dynamic creation of literature and art within the progress of the era," "avoiding impetuousness and utilitarian thoughts, and striving to create more outstanding works that are worthy of the times and the people."

In recent years, the broad masses of literary and artistic workers have kept in mind President Xi Jinping's earnest exhortations, delved deep into life, rooted themselves among the people, persisted in expressing the aspirations of the people and singing the praises of the times, achieving abundant results in literary and artistic creation, cultural activities, and cultural benefits for the people. Particularly around the commemorations of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the anniversary of the reform and opening-up, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the commemoration of the Chinese People's Volunteers' participation in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, and the anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, as well as around major themes such as the decisive battle against poverty alleviation and the decisive victory in building a comprehensively小康社会, the major challenges of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the hosting of major sports events like the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Hangzhou Asian Games, and the Chengdu Universiade, and the realization of the people's aspirations for a better life and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the broad masses of literary and artistic workers have poured their passion into their work, created with their hearts, produced a large number of excellent works, and carried out a series of cultural activities, playing a role in gathering hearts, warming the people's hearts, and strengthening confidence. At the same time, adapting to the development of the times and the needs of the people, the main theme of literary and artistic works has continuously sought depth and progress in thought and innovation and breakthroughs in expression, with significant advances in various fields such as literature, drama, film, television, music, dance, fine arts, photography, calligraphy, folk arts, acrobatics, folk arts, literary criticism, mass arts, and art education, presenting a vibrant and inspiring new landscape for China's literary and artistic endeavors.