A senior Chinese official has urged the country's ideological workers to work hard to create a sound ideological environment for the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) later this year.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, made this call in his recent tour in central China's Henan Province.

During his June 5-8 tour, the senior Party official visited local factories, villages, communities, schools and publicity departments in Nanyang, Pingdingshan, Xuchang, Zhengzhou and Kaifeng cities.

Li had meetings with local officials and praised the economic and social achievements in the province. He urged local people to study instructions made by Party General Secretary Hu Jintao during his Henan tour in early May.

The official said the upcoming Party Congress is an important event for the nation which is entering a crucial stage of economic and social development.

He urged the people of Henan to build their province into a powerful cultural base and create some "fresh" experience for the whole country.

Source: Xinhua