State Councilor Liu Yandong has called for ideological emancipation, reform and innovation in the country's educational sector, so as to encourage the building an overall prosperous society for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.

Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke at the annual working conference of the Ministry of Education on Monday.

In her speech, Liu attributed the prosperity of the country's educational sector to the great times of the Reform and Opening-up Drive. The sector has witnessed great development in past 30 years, she said.

China has built up the world's largest educational system, featuring major breakthroughs in secondary schooling, and higher enrollments the in colleges and other higher-learning institutions, according to Liu.

Currently, the country is probing an educational development road with China's own characteristics, by further pushing forward the educational reform, making major steps in achieving a fair education for all, and improving logistic conditions. The educational sector "has made an irreplaceable, important contribution to the country's modernization drive," she said.

The official said that the government will continue to play a leading role in the educational sector, while nongovernmental sectors will be encouraged to join in, so as to stimulate the enthusiasm of the whole society in developing the sector, she said.

In 2009, the government will work out a long-term guideline for the educational reform; make substantial efforts to develop education in rural, remote and minority areas; implement central policies and measures regarding the educational sector, meet the challenges of the current global financial crisis; and do a good job in maintaining stability in the educational sector, according to the state councilor.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2008)