President Xi Jinping has congratulated researchers of the history of New China and called on them to work to further encourage people to firm up their historical confidence and foster a strong intellectual power to strive in unity for national rejuvenation.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in a congratulatory letter sent to the Association of National History of the People's Republic of China on the 30th anniversary of its founding.

Xi said in the letter that over the past three decades, the association has made significant contributions to the cause of advancing research, publicity and education on the history of New China.

He encouraged the association to stick to the correct political orientation, uphold historical materialism, and follow the guidance of Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

Xi urged efforts to fully grasp the main themes and trends of the history of the PRC and to continuously improve work on research, publicity and education to make new contributions to the building of a modern socialist country in all respects and the advancing of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi's letter was read by Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a ceremony to mark the association's founding anniversary on Thursday.

Li called for pushing research of the history of New China toward greater development.

The association, a national academic organization, was established in December 1992.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn