China must strive for the great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics, President Xi Jinping said at the opening session of a high-level workshop in preparation for the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the workshop attended by provincial and ministerial officials, which ran from Wednesday to Thursday.

"Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the theme of all the Party's theories and practices since the reform and opening up" nearly forty years ago, Xi said.

"The CPC must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said.

Xi called for firmer confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics to ensure that the CPC and country forge ahead in the correct direction.

He encouraged Party members to put forward new thoughts, strategies and measures on the basis of the stages and features of China's development as well as the people's desire for a better life.

To accomplish building a moderately prosperous society and to realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, Xi called for continuous efforts to adopt an overall approach to promote economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress, as well as advance coordinated development of the "Four Comprehensives."

The Four Comprehensives refers to a complete four-pronged strategy that aims to comprehensively accomplish a moderately prosperous society, deepen reform, advance rule of law, and strengthen strict Party governance.