BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council, or Cabinet, appointed Friday nine new counselors and six new members of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History.

    Premier Wen Jiabao conferred the appointments, saying this year was the 60th founding anniversary of the counselors' department and the 58th for the institute, both founded on proposals by then leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.

    The two institutions were a major part of the Communist Party of China's United Front work, established to unite all forces in the development the nation, as well as a component of the government work.

    Wen asked the counselors and researchers to advise the government by collecting public opinions and grassroots information, play a supervisory role, and helping boost the country's cultural sector.

    The global financial crisis had brought a new opportunity for cultural development as the confidence for dealing with the crisis relied on cultural heritage and scientific spirits, he said.