A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Monday called on publicity departments across the country to safeguard unity and stability.

Liu Yunshan, head of the Department of Publicity of the CPC Central Committee, said at a national conference on publicity work opening here Monday that the country's publicity and ideological workers should have a firm grip on and strive hard to guide public opinion.

"Our efforts must be centered around the overall situation of the work of the Party and the country," Liu said.

Liu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, noted that both the officials and general public should be guided to value the country's "hard-earned excellent situation", and to concentrate on construction and development.

Stressing that both the domestic and international situation is undergoing profound changes and that China is facing an increasing number of new issues and challenges, Liu said that it was "not an easy job" to achieve a consensus of public opinion. He also said that it was a "hard job" to carry forward the task of reform and development while safeguarding stability.

He went on to say that the publicity and ideological workers should "voluntarily keep conformity with" the Party Central Committee with Hu Jintao as its general secretary, adhere to the scientific concept of development, and always attach priority to the fundamental interests of the vast majority of the people.

Speaking to senior officials in charge of publicity work in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and other

departments, Liu outlined the major tasks for Chinese publicity workers this year. These tasks include safeguarding stability, promoting the scientific concept of development, creating a harmonious environment for public opinion, and doing a good job in arranging and publicizing commemorative activities for the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese War against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.