BEIJING — President Xi Jinping has called for speeding up the building of a basic medical and healthcare system with Chinese characteristics.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a letter to a national conference to honor outstanding staff in the medical, health and family planning sectors on Aug 17.

The CPC and the central government have attached great importance to the development of the medical and healthcare sector and improvement of public health, Xi said.

The President called on those working in the sector to continue to serve the people, hone their medical skill and promote ethical practices with enthusiasm in order to offer higher quality services.

Party committees and governments at all levels should improve the working and living conditions of medical, health and family planning workers, and foster a good social environment that respects doctors and values health, he said.

Premier Li Keqiang said in another letter that reform and development of the medical, health and family planning sectors directly concern physical and psychological health, and the building of a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way.

Premier Li called on staff in these sectors to work wholeheartedly, improve their professional abilities, provide better services for the public and make contributions to building China into a health power.

Altogether 775 individuals and 251 groups were honored at Aug 17’s meeting.