BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Sunday night called for more quality shows from private arts troupes to contribute to the development and the prospering of the country's socialist culture.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks after watching a Shaoxing opera that ended the three-week show season by China's private arts troupes in Beijing.

Shaoxing opera is a traditional Chinese local opera originating in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Li stressed that privately-owned arts troupes can survive only when their plays satisfy the market and the public.

He said he hoped private arts troupes would produce more competitive shows with a positive and healthy theme and grow stronger by winning public support.

Private arts troupes must be treated equally in terms of professional evaluation, social security coverage and support of artistic creation as are those state-owned cultural companies, he said.