BEIJING -- The publicity chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Saturday called for more quality literary periodicals.

"Literary magazines in this new era should be vitalized by harnessing the Internet in a bid to expand their coverage and influence," said Liu Qibao, head of the publicity department of the CPC Central Committee, on a visit to the Chinese Writers' Publishing Group.

Liu stressed that more attention should be given to writers of online literature, and literary journals should better communicate with readers and writers through the Internet.

He urged periodicals to carry more realistic literature, guiding the writers to focus on the development of the times as well as people's lives and thoughts.

"[The journals] should encourage writers to create work with their individual characteristics and to explore something new in writing concepts and techniques," Liu added

Liu also called on the literary magazine editors to hone their professional skills.