BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday called on film industry workers to accelerate its development with innovation and new and high technologies.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the call in an instruction for a video conference on the film industry.

Li said the film sector had been thriving and the competitiveness of homegrown films had been enhanced in recent years.

He called for high quality films that sold in cinemas to increase the influence of Chinese culture.

State Councilor Liu Yandong, who chaired Monday's meeting, stressed non-public film companies should be supported and governments at all levels should facilitate the development of the industry.