Liao Xiangzhong, Party secretary and president of Communication University of China in Beijing, said, "Xi's letter charts the course for the capacity buildup of all the Chinese media serving subscribers overseas by outlining their missions, how they will shape a new landscape for communication and what kind of message they should deliver, as well as how to present China's image."

China Daily serves as a window of the nation to the world, and it "has made key contributions to the country's storytelling and image building in the past four decades", he said.

Liao, a professor and PhD mentor, added that his university, which has educated generations of the country's outstanding media workers, is ready to join hands with China Daily to honor Xi's instructions and further boost the nation's media influence worldwide.

Gao Anming, vice-president and editor-in-chief of China International Publishing Group, said Xi's letter "sets clear requirements" for the nation's international communication missions.

"In the face of the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation, the world's vast changes unseen in a century and China being highly integrated with the world, it is of unprecedented importance and urgency to step up China's communication with the world," Gao said.

As China Daily has become a well-known media group with global influence, Gao said he hopes it "will not forget its original aspirations, bear in mind its mission, keep pace with the times, innovate and develop" and "better spread Chinese ideas, values and culture".