Xi stresses strength arises from united efforts

President Xi Jinping highlighted on Friday the importance of maintaining a stable and healthy economic environment, fostering a political atmosphere of integrity and ensuring national prosperity and security for the people in 2022.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark while addressing a New Year's gathering in Beijing held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top political advisory body.

Xi underscored that the CPC is set to convene its 20th National Congress this year, a major event in the political life of the nation and the Party.

It is important to continue taking the historical initiative, building on the current momentum and forging ahead in the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist nation, he said, adding that the nation must stand ready to make more arduous efforts.

The year 2021 was of monumental significance in both the history of the CPC and the Chinese nation, as the Party celebrated its 100th founding anniversary and China accomplished the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, after having eliminated absolute poverty in rural areas, Xi said.

He noted that the nation, led by the CPC Central Committee, has responded to major changes unseen in a century and the once-in-a-century pandemic with composure, made new strides in fostering a new development paradigm and secured new progress in pursuing high-quality growth.

China has also made significant steps in ensuring the people's wellbeing, made continuous progress in ecological and environmental protection and led the international community in economic growth and pandemic response, he said.

Speaking of the nation's efforts in deepening reform, he noted that all the key tasks and another 61 reform agendas set out by the Central Committee for Deepening Overall Reform have been completed, with another 216 reform plans being rolled out by different departments.

The nation, while upholding the principle of "one country, two systems" and patriots administering Hong Kong and Macao, has supported economic growth and improvements in the people's well-being in both special administrative regions and promoted the turnaround of Hong Kong from chaos to stability, he said.

While adhering to the one-China policy and the 1992 Consensus with regard to the Taiwan question, China has strengthened the momentum of opposing separatist forces and promoting reunification, effectively responded to external challenges and pushed forward the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties, the president said.

The nation has acted on the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, championed true multilateralism, taken solid steps in the joint building of the Belt and Road and delivered on its promise to make its vaccines global public goods, he said.

Going forward, Xi pledged to uphold and refine the system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation and further consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front.

Xi stressed that strength arises from unity and happiness comes from hard work, as he rallied the nation to strengthen unity and strive toward greater victories and glories.