BEIJING - An awarding ceremony was held Monday evening at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing to award the winners of this year's Mao Dun Literature Prize.

Liu Yunshan, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Tie Ning, chairwoman of the China Writers Association (CWA) and other leaders of the CWA attended the ceremony and presented awards to the five winners.

Five books written by Zhang Wei, Liu Xinglong, Mo Yan, Bi Feiyu and Liu Zhenyun, respectively, won the prize.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, wrote a letter to the awarding ceremony to extend his congratulations.

Li in his letter called on Chinese writers to always bear their social responsibilities in mind and provide the public with more high-quality literary works.

First issued in 1982, the Mao Dun Literature Prize is one of China's most prestigious literary awards which is given every four years.

(Source:Xin Hua)