Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L), also member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau and president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, awards certificate to a graduate during the graduation ceremony of the Party School in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

   Chinese Vice President and member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau Xi Jinping Friday conferred certificates on graduates of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

    Xi, also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, heads the school.

    Politburo member and director of the CPC Central Committee Organization Department Li Yuanchao and Ling Jihua, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, both members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the graduation ceremony.

    The ceremony marked the graduation of 577 Party officials from the Central Party School and more than 2,600 graduates from the school's branches.

    The Party School of the CPC Central Committee is the highest institution for training high- and middle-ranking party officials and Maxist theoreticians. The School's history dates back to the school of Marxism and Communism set up in March 1933.