Xi underlines heightened Party unity

The CPC has been committed to seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation over the past century and promoting progress and common good in the world, which provided the Party with the greatest source of confidence in its history, he said.

It also endowed the Party with confidence to stay in power over the longer term and to lead the people to continue marching forward, Xi said.

The Party can now say with pride that it is worthy of the choice of history and the people, he said.

He highlighted the need to build consensus among the whole Party and society on an authentic understanding of history, and help Party members and the people, especially young people, to shore up their confidence in history.

The Party's life lies in its unity, and political unity must always come first, he said.

Xi stressed the necessity to summarize and properly use the Party's fighting experience, think about worst-case scenarios, be ever ready to protect against potential dangers in time of peace and enhance its fighting spirit in the new historic circumstances.

He called on members of the Political Bureau to remain true to their original aspirations and missions, think less of personal gains and losses and always give priority to the cause of the Party and the people.

They must always stay close to and share happiness and woe with the people, firm up their ideals and beliefs and obtain the political wisdom to tell right from wrong, he said.

Xi stressed that the Party's 20th National Congress next year would be the top political agenda in the work of the Political Bureau, and it is important for its members to fulfill their responsibilities faithfully with a strong sense of political responsibility and their historical mission.

With the Party undergoing a leadership transition this year and next year, he urged senior officials to strictly abide by discipline and rules and comply with the arrangements of Party organizations.