BEIJING, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili called for continuing Chinese tradition of respecting teachers and education undertaking.

A ceremony was held here Sunday to mark China's 23rd Teacher's Day which falls on Sept. 10 and award nation-wide model teachers and educational institutes.

Addressing the ceremony, Chen conveyed congratulations and greetings of the central government to the awarded teachers and institutes, proposing that all social circles should carry forward Chinese long history and tradition of respecting teachers and education.

Chinese has inherited their teacher-respecting tradition since the educational and ideologist ancestor Confucius (551-479 B.C.) who had thousands of students and followers throughout the country.

Chen urged governments at all levels to pay more attention to educational affairs within their administration and improve living and working conditions of teachers and especially the incomes of teachers in rural areas.

All the educational authorities and institutions should provide better environment for teachers to participate professional training and create a fair mechanism of income distribution, she said.

Chen encouraged the model teachers to create more teaching methods and equip themselves with more knowledge and wisdom to cultivate the nation's next generations.