The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council held a Spring Festival reception for the year 2025 at the Great Hall of the People on the morning of Jan. 27. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to the people of all ethnic groups in China, to compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, and to overseas Chinese.
Xi stressed that the outgoing Year of the Dragon has been a year in which we have invigorated our spirits and weathered storms to see rainbows. Facing complex and challenging situations throughout the year, we have responded with composure and implemented a range of comprehensive measures, overcome difficulties, forged ahead with determination, and taken new and solid strides in advancing Chinese modernization.
Li Qiang presided over the gathering. Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and other leaders attended the event.
The banquet hall of the Great Hall of the People was brightly lit, radiating warmth and grandeur. More than 2,000 people from all walks of life gathered to celebrate the upcoming festival, filling the venue with a festive atmosphere of joy and harmony.
At around 10 a.m., Xi and other Party and state leaders entered the hall to cheerful music. They warmly greeted the attendees, and exchanged Spring Festival greetings and wishes with them. The hall erupted into rapturous applause.
In his speech, Xi noted that over the past year, we have made solid progress in pursuing high-quality development, effectively implemented existing policies, proactively introduced a package of incremental policies, and promoted economic recovery and sound development. Significant achievements have been made in technological and industrial innovation, and new quality productive forces have been promoted steadily. Fresh progress has been secured in coordinated regional development and integrated urban-rural development. From a global perspective, China has remained a major engine of global economic growth. We have adopted a coordinated and balanced approach to advance various undertakings, and achieved new progress in advancing socialist democracy and rule of law, pushing for cultural, social and ecological advancement, and promoting national defense and military development. We celebrated the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China. The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee was convened to further deepen reform comprehensively. Efforts have been made to ensure and improve people's livelihood, keep employment and consumer prices stable, and further consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation. We have ensured both development and security, defused risks in key sectors in an orderly and effective manner, and maintained overall social stability. Decisive actions have been taken in response to major natural disasters, including effective rescue and relief efforts following the earthquake in Xizang's Dingri County, a high-altitude and low-oxygen region. Sustained efforts have been made in work related to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, with celebrations held to mark the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. At the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes achieved their best-ever overseas results, which made all Chinese people at home and abroad immensely proud. We have further advanced major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, actively promoted the reform of the global governance system, enhanced the solidarity and cooperation of the Global South, and deepened and solidified high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. With such efforts, the country has injected more positive energy into safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting human development and progress. We have persevered with full and rigorous Party self-governance, carried out Party discipline education, and continued to intensify the fight against corruption. As a result, we have ensured the Party's strong leadership and continuously improved Party and government conduct, thus providing a fundamental guarantee for the development of all undertakings.
Xi stressed that the past year has been an extraordinary journey with encouraging results. We have proven once again with our hard work that no difficulty or obstacle can stop Chinese people's pursuit of a better life or block the historical course of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. We will undoubtedly break new ground in reform and development as long as we remain steadfast in our conviction and confidence, face problems and obstacles squarely, and deal with risks and challenges without flinching.
He noted that 2025 is the final year for implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). We must follow the guidance of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress as well as the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, and remain committed to focusing on high-quality development. We must fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, accelerate the creation of a new development pattern, further deepen reform across the board, expand high-standard opening up, guard against and defuse risks in key areas and external shocks, promote sustained economic recovery, maintain social harmony and stability, and make significant advances in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance. We will formulate proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and continue to strive toward our grand goals.
Xi emphasized that we must always place the people front and center, respond promptly and effectively to public needs and concerns, and work hard to deliver solid results concerning people's lives, thereby constantly improving people's living standards and ensuring that more benefits of modernization are shared among all the people in a more equitable way.
Xi noted that in Chinese culture, the snake embodies wisdom and vitality, symbolizing harvest, good fortune and auspicious blessings. As the Year of the Snake unfolds, it is hoped that people of all ethnic groups across the country will draw inspiration from the snake's enduring vitality, fortify confidence, cherish hope and forge ahead with a pioneering spirit to jointly write a new chapter in advancing Chinese modernization.
Art workers gave a wonderful performance at the reception.
Leading officials and retired senior officials of the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission attended the reception.
The event was also attended by leading officials of central Party and government departments, the military and people's organizations, as well as leading officials of the Beijing municipal government. Also present were leading officials of non-CPC political parties' central committees and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of personages without party affiliation, representatives of retired veterans and officials, renowned experts and scholars, and representatives from all walks of life in Beijing.