Ashraf AboArafe
BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) — As the traditional Chinese Snake Flag Festival approaches, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, gathered with leaders of the central committees of democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and people without party affiliation at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of the 20th to celebrate the festival. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping extended sincere and final New Year greetings to all democratic parties, the federation of industry and commerce, people without party affiliation, and the throngs of united front members.
The meeting was attended by Hu Wen, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Nixi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
The meeting was also attended by Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang Zheng Jianping, Standing Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League Ding Zhongli, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic Association for the Construction of the Nation Ha Wenbin, Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of Democracy Cai Da-Ful, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants’ and Workers’ Democratic Party He Wei, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic Party Jiang Zhuo-Hyun, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society Wu Wei-Hua, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Su Hui, Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce Gao Yunlong, representatives of non-party figures Xiaoliang Shu Wei-Fang and others. The meeting was also attended by Ho Hlu-Wah and Leung Chun-Ying, both self-appointed Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Former chairmen, first vice chairmen, and executive vice chairmen of the central committees of various democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce who have retired from leading positions.
Cai Dafeq delivered a speech on behalf of the central committees of the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and people without party affiliation, noting that in 2024, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core united with the people of all ethnic groups to uphold the banner and forge ahead, successfully held the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, made decisive decisions on comprehensively deepening reform to advance Chinese-style modernization, and calmly responded to the challenges it faced, making achievements that did not come easily through reform and development. In the new year, the central committees of the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and people without party affiliation should consciously maintain high consensus with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, focus on the core tasks of the Party and the country, pool wisdom and strength, participate in political discussion, and contribute suggestions, and jointly open a new page in building a strong country and the great cause of rejuvenating the nation.
After listening to Cai Dafen’s speech, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, stressing that 2024 is the year in which we have overcome obstacles and challenges and forged ahead. Over the past year, the CPC Central Committee has led the people of all ethnic groups in calmly responding to changes and taking comprehensive measures, successfully completing the major goals and tasks of economic and social development, and making steady strides on the road to realizing Chinese-style modernization. We have guided units at all levels and parties to correctly grasp the favorable conditions and unfavorable factors, and have been able to maintain strategic resilience and enhance our confidence in the inevitability of victory.
We have effectively implemented existing policies, promoted the launch of new policies, and steadily pushed forward high-quality development, contributing to the recovery and improvement of our country’s economy. With the GDP growth rate of 5%, we have promoted second-order innovation and made a series of new breakthroughs in leading technological fields, making a strong contribution to the development of modern, qualitative productive forces. We have continued to deepen reform in an all-round way, focusing on coordinated progress in various fields, which has significantly improved the people’s livelihood security and increased the people’s sense of belonging. We also coordinated development and security, which maintained the stability of the overall social situation. We also strengthened the diplomacy of major countries with Chinese characteristics, which added more positive energy to maintaining world peace and stability and promoting human development and progress. At the same time, we seriously carried out the campaign to study Party discipline, and firmly adhered to strengthening behavior correction, tightening discipline, and combating corruption, which led to continuous improvement in the working methods of the Party and the government. These achievements we have made are due to the strong leadership of the CPC, and the struggle of the people of all ethnic groups, including all democratic parties, the Federation of Industry and Commerce, and people without party affiliations, in the spirit of unity and hard work.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the year 2024 is also a year of upholding the original with innovation and prosperous development of the cause of multi-party cooperation.
All democratic parties and people without party affiliations have fully implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and focused on promoting modernization in the style of
Politically, actively provided advice and suggestions, strengthened democratic supervision, and played a positive role in scientific decision-making and effective policy implementation by the CPC Central Committee. The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce has strengthened the implementation of support policies to promote the development and growth of the private economy, and has done a lot of work to promote the healthy development of the non-governmental economy and the healthy growth of the people working in the non-governmental economy. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, he expressed his sincere thanks to everyone.
Xi Jinping stressed that 2025 is the last year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. We must adhere to the general tone of focusing on achieving progress while maintaining stability, implement more positive and promising macro policies, focus on high-quality development, enhance self-reliance in science and technology, maintain a good womb for economic and social development, and complete the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan. We must adhere to the general tone of focusing on achieving progress while maintaining stability, implement more positive and promising macro policies, focus on high-quality development, and enhance self-reliance in science and technology.
And digital technology. Maintaining the good momentum of economic and social development, successfully completing the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan and laying a solid foundation for a good start of the “15th Five-Year Plan”. All democratic parties, the Federation of Industry and Commerce and people without party affiliation should focus on the center, serve the overall situation. Give full play to their respective advantages, rally the hearts of the people, strengthen consensus, crystallize wisdom and pool strength more widely.
Xi Jinping put forward three expectations for the democratic parties, the Federation of Industry and Commerce and people without party affiliation.
First, they should upgrade the political position and continue to draw a concentric circle, understand the basic characteristics of the new-style political party system in China under the leadership of the CPC, study in-depth the Socialist Thought with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, make more efforts to advance the work of enhancing people’s confidence, uniting the people’s spirit, moving the people’s hearts and building unity, and transform positive factors from all aspects into actual development results. Second, they should focus on central work and actively contribute ideas and efforts. Conduct in-depth research and discussions on further deepening comprehensive reform and promoting high-quality development, formulate recommendations for the “Fifteenth Five-Year Plan”, continue to highlight the implementation of democratic supervision on important and difficult problems of ecological and religious protection in the Yangtze River. The All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce should guide private economists to maintain their entrepreneurial enthusiasm and enhance their development momentum, and guide private enterprises to establish and improve the modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics and strive for high-quality development. Third, strengthen self-construction, strengthen the ability to perform duties, and highlight political leadership. Guide and encourage members not to forget the original purpose and remember the mission, carry on the fine traditions and draw strength from them. Consolidate and deepen the learning and teaching results on discipline, continue to implement the spirit of the Eight Disciplines issued by the Party Central Committee to promote changes in work style, and consolidate and develop a good political environment. The meeting was attended by Shi Taifulg, relevant leaders of the central committees of various democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and responsible comrades from relevant central departments.
