As the traditional Chinese festival of the Year of the Snake is approaching, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, gathered with leaders from non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), as well as personages without party affiliation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on the afternoon of Jan 20 to celebrate the festival. Xi, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, extended his festive greetings to those non-CPC personages and the vast number of members of the united front.
The event was also attended by Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. Both are also members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
Invited participants included Zheng Jianbang, chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, Ding Zhongli, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, Hao Mingjin, chairman of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, Cai Dafeng, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, He Wei, chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, Jiang Zuojun, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, Wu Weihua, chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society, Su Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, Gao Yunlong, chairman of the ACFIC, as well as Xie Xiaoliang and Xu Weigang, representatives of personages without party affiliation.
Also invited to attend were Ho Hau Wah and Leung Chun-ying,, both vice chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as well as retired former chairpersons, first vice chairpersons and executive vice chairpersons of the central committees of the non-CPC political parties and retired heads of the ACFIC.
Cai Dafeng delivered a speech on behalf of the central committees of the non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation. He said that in 2024, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core united and led the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in holding high the banner and forging ahead, successfully convened the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, made the major decision to further comprehensively deepen reform and advance Chinese modernization, calmly responded to challenges, and made hard-won new achievements in reform and development. In the New Year, the non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation will consciously close ranks under the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, focus on the central work of the Party and the country, pool wisdom and strength, offer advice on governance, and jointly write a new chapter in building a strong country and realizing the rejuvenation of the nation.
After listening to Cai Dafeng’s speech, Xi gave an important address. He noted that 2024 was a year for us to overcome difficulties and forge ahead. Over the past year, the CPC Central Committee has united and led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in responding calmly to changes and taking a comprehensive approach to successfully accomplishing the major objectives and tasks for economic and social development, with new solid strides made in advancing Chinese modernization. We guided all parties at all levels to correctly grasp favorable conditions and handle unfavorable conditions, maintained strategic resolve, and increased confidence in success. We effectively implemented various existing policies, stepped up efforts to introduce a package of incremental policies, and made solid efforts to promote high-quality development, through which China’s economy recovered and showed an upward momentum and the GDP grew by 5 percent. We strengthened independent innovation and made a series of new breakthroughs in the frontiers of science and technology, giving a strong boost to the development of new quality productive forces. We further deepened reform comprehensively, paid attention to the coordinated progress of various undertakings, and made solid efforts to ensure people’s well-being, with the people having gained a greater sense of fulfillment. We coordinated development and security and maintained overall social stability. We have advanced major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, contributing positively to global peace, stability, and human development. We have conducted Party discipline education campaign with a practical approach, persistently working to improve Party conduct and enforce discipline. As a result, both the Party and the Chinese government have achieved continuous improvements in their conduct. These achievements are attributable to the strong leadership of the CPC and the collective efforts and unity demonstrated by the non-CPC political parties, the ACIFC, and personages without party affiliation.
Xi pointed out that 2024 was also a year in which fundamental principles were upheld and new ground broken in the development of the cause of multi-party cooperation. The non-CPC political parties and personages without party affiliation fully implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, focused on advancing Chinese modernization, actively put forward suggestions and strengthened democratic oversight. They played a positive role in the scientific decision-making and effective implementation of the CPC Central Committee’s policies. The ACFIC helped implement the supportive policies for developing the private sector, and did a lot of work in facilitating the healthy development of the non-public sector and those working in it. He expressed heartfelt thanks to them all on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.
Xi stressed that 2025 marks the final year for implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). He called for efforts to adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, implement more proactive and impactful macro policies, pursue high-quality development as a top priority, achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintain sound momentum in economic and social development, so as to achieve the goals and tasks outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan, thus laying a solid foundation for the 15th Five-Year Plan to start on the right footing. He also called on the other political parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation to focus on central tasks while serving the country’s overall development, and make the most of their strengths, so as to more extensively rally public support, build consensus, and pool wisdom and strength.
Xi put forward three expectations to the non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation. First, they should enhance their political awareness and do their bit for achieving the greatest possible convergence of interests. They should have a thorough understanding of the fundamental characteristics of China’s new political party system under the leadership of the CPC. They should further study the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and focus their efforts on boosting confidence, rallying public support, improving the well-being of the people, and building consensus, so as to transform all positive forces from various sectors into tangible results for development. Second, they should actively contribute ideas concerning the central tasks of the Party and the country. They should conduct in-depth fact-finding missions to offer suggestions on key issues such as further deepening reform, promoting high-quality development, and drafting proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan. They should continue to engage in democratic oversight of critical issues in the ecological and environmental protection along the Yangtze River. The ACFIC should guide private entrepreneurs in maintaining their entrepreneurial enthusiasm and boosting their confidence in development, and assist private enterprises in establishing and improving a modern corporate system with Chinese characteristics, striving for high-quality development. Third, they should strengthen their own development and enhance the ability to fulfill responsibilities. It is imperative for them to emphasize political guidance, encouraging and motivating the majority of members to stay true to their original aspirations, and carry forward fine traditions, from which to draw strength for progress. It is also essential for them to consolidate and deepen the results of the discipline education campaign, continue to implement the eight-point decision on improving Party conduct for the transformation of work style, and consolidate and develop a sound political ecology.
Shi Taifeng, relevant officials from the central committees of non-CPC political parties and the ACFIC, along with leading officials from related departments of the CPC Central Committee, attended the event.
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