Chinese leaders extend festival greetings to predecessors

BEIJING - Leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state extended Spring Festival greetings to their predecessors as the festival draws near.

The veteran leaders that received the greetings included Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, former presidents, party chiefs and military chiefs, as well as retired senior officials with the CPC Central Committee, national legislature, central government, national advisory body and military headquarters, said a statement from the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on Tuesday.

CPC and state leaders personally visited the former leaders or entrusted other officials to deliver the greetings, wishing them a happy Spring Festival, good health and long lives, the statement said.

The former leaders expressed their gratitude and expectation that Chinese people, including all Party members, will overcome difficulties to carry out the reform plan set at the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, under the CPC central leadership with Xi Jinping as the general secretary.

They wished that the whole country will work for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the statement said.

Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on January 31 this year.