BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China has stressed the significance of philosophy and social sciences in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics are a necessary requirement in the new era, said Wang Weiguang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Philosophy and social sciences play an critical role in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Wang said.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is speeding up building "philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics," a system including various fields such as history, economics, politics, culture, society and ecology.

It is necessary for philosophy and social sciences to better play their role in the complicated international situation when various thoughts and cultures intertwine, said Wang.

With more than 30 years of reform and opening up, China has made remarkable economic and social progress, but various ideologies and thoughts keep cropping up.

It is still a complex task to build consensus. We have an urgent need to solve these major theoretical and practical problems through philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, Wang said.