Zhou Yongkang (L, front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, watches an exhibition of calligraphy works, paintings and photographs from the public security sector to portrait the work and the life of policemen in the National Museum in Beijing, capital of China, July 12, 2011. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Senior Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang has urged the country's police to promote self cultivation as part of efforts to improve the overall performance of the police.

Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Tuesday visited an art exhibition at the National Museum in Beijing.

The exhibition displays more than 300 pieces of calligraphy works, paintings and photographs which are works from the public security sector to portrait the work and the life of policemen.

Zhou said police should tap their potential to create excellent artistic works, enhance the influence of police culture, and cultivate their inner qualities as well as law enforcement capabilities so as to promote harmonious relations between the police and the public.

The exhibition was sponsored jointly by the Ministry of Public Security, the China Calligraphers Association, the China Artists Association, and the China Photographers Association.