President Xi Jinping has called on people working in the country's film industry to create more fine cinematic works that reflect the spirit of the times and express the people's aspirations.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter on Thursday to eight veteran Chinese film artists, including famed 97-year-old actress Tian Hua.

Xi said that reading the letter from the artists reminded him of the classic films they had participated in, which are widely known and cherished by the public.

The eight artists recently wrote a letter to Xi to share their decades-long working experiences and reflections on filmmaking, and expressed their resolve to further contribute to the development of the industry.

In the reply, Xi said that for a long time, the artists, out of their love for the Party and the people, as well as their unwavering commitment to artistic ideals, have created vivid characters on the screen, leaving generations of audiences with wonderful memories.

Xi expressed his hope that the artists will continue to act as fine models in upholding virtue and pursuing artistic excellence.

He also encouraged them to inspire the broader film community to strengthen cultural confidence, stay rooted in real life, and make new contributions to the prosperity of arts and the building up of the country's cultural strength.

All of the eight artists were born before the 1960s and have worked in the film industry for over 40 years, receiving many national honors.

Xiao Guiyun, an 84-year-old director renowned for epics such as The Birth of New China, told China Daily that she was overjoyed when she was informed about President Xi's reply.

"This reply was not only addressed to us eight filmmakers, but also represents care, encouragement and inspiration for the entire Chinese film industry," she said.

Noting that China's number of silver screens has surged from around 6,000 in 2010 to nearly 100,000 this year — the highest in the world — Xiao said that the industry has taken a remarkable leap forward, demonstrating its vast potential.

"We hope that Chinese filmmakers, following President Xi's guidance and expectations, will continue to make every effort to advance Chinese cinema," she added.

Chen Daoming, a renowned actor and president of the China Film Association, said the reply letter will encourage and inspire filmmakers to focus on changing the current situation in the film industry, where "there is quantity but a lack of quality", and where there are "plateaus" but a lack of "peaks".

"We will continue to strive toward the goal of building a nation strong in filmmaking," said Chen, who was also one of the writers of the letter to Xi.