The central government on Wednesday awarded 12 cities, 494 villages and towns, 1,001 institutions, and 100 individuals for their exemplary deeds in promoting ethical and cultural progress.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, addressed the award-issuing conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The conference was presided over by Liu Yunshan, a member of both the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the CPC Central Committee's Publicity Department, and attended by State Councilor Chen Zhili.

The CPC Central Committee, with Hu Jintao as the general secretary, has attached greater importance to ethical and cultural progress, said Li, who also heads the Central Commission on Ethical and Cultural Progress.

Li called for exerting substantial efforts to promote ethical and cultural progress and never taking to formalism in this field.

Source: Xinhua