BEIJING - A senior Chinese official on Thursday urged solid efforts to study and develop the Marxist theory, with the study, research and publicity of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the fundamental task.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, stressed upholding Marxism as the guiding ideology, at a workshop on the Marxist theory.

Wang demanded more efforts to increase the public appeal of the Party's new theories and better introduce these theories to the world.

He also called for producing more high-quality Marxist theory research outcomes and nurturing a high-caliber team of theoretical professionals.

Thursday's workshop was presided over by Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.