Liu Yunshan(C), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the school's 2017 autumn semester in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 1, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Liu Yunshan, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official, said Friday the CPC cadres must improve their political ability.

Liu, president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the school's autumn semester.

"Political ability is the primary criterion to assess an official," Liu said.

In selecting officials, Party committees must first determine whether the candidate is sober and firm politically, namely, to gauge their political ability, he explained.

The importance attached by the CPC Central Committee to ideological and political construction is behind the achievements made since the 18th CPC National Congress, Liu said.

Only a large number of officials with strong political ability can advance the country's development, cope with multiple risks and challenges, consolidate the Party's ruling status and realize its historical missions, he noted.

Liu asked officials to learn from speeches of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and conform to the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core in thought, politics and action.