Xi Jinping delivers a speech

　　On behalf of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, I extend New Year greetings to people of all ethnic groups across the country, as well as to our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.

　　Li Keqiang presides; Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Wang Qishan attend.

　　On the morning of the 23rd, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council held the 2020 Spring Festival Gathering at the Great Hall of the People. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech, extending New Year greetings on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to people of all ethnic groups across the country, as well as to compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.

 

 

 

　　On January 23, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held the 2020 Spring Festival Gala at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech. Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng took the photograph.

　　Xi Jinping emphasized, "Time waits for no one! History waits for no one! Time belongs to those who strive forward—and history belongs to them as well! To realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must race against time and move in step with history. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, people from all ethnic groups across the Party, the military, and the country must stay true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind. We must face challenges head-on, undaunted by storms or setbacks, and embrace every moment with a sense of urgency and determination. Together, let’s continue marching relentlessly toward the glorious goal of national rejuvenation, tirelessly working to build a community with a shared future for humanity, and boldly creating a new chapter of great historical significance for the Chinese nation in the grand timeline of human history!"

 

 

 

　　On January 23, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held the 2020 Spring Festival Gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Leaders of the Party and the state—Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Wang Qishan—joined representatives from all sectors of the capital to celebrate the arrival of the New Year together. Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Tao took the photograph.

　　Leaders of the Party and the State—Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, and others—attended the New Year gathering, which was presided over by Li Keqiang.

　　The banquet hall of the Great Hall of the People was awash with vibrant flowers and adorned with twinkling lights and colorful decorations, as more than 2,000 people from all walks of life gathered together to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, their joyful laughter and cheerful conversations filling the air with a festive, celebratory atmosphere.

　　At 10 a.m., amid cheerful music, Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders entered the hall, prompting enthusiastic applause from the entire audience.

 

 

 

　　On January 23, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held the 2020 Spring Festival Gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the country, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yao Dawei.

　　Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech that "Heaven rewards diligence, and hard work never deceives." Over the past year, we braved wind and rain, remained vigilant and persistent, and steadily advanced along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. We adhered to the overarching principle of pursuing progress while maintaining stability, deepened reform and opening-up initiatives, and prioritized high-quality development. As a result, economic performance stayed within a reasonable range, key breakthroughs were achieved in our three major battles against poverty, environmental challenges, and systemic risks, while remarkable strides were made in scientific and technological innovation. Meanwhile, significant progress was made in poverty alleviation, bolstering people's livelihoods, and accelerating reforms in national defense and the military. Our comprehensive diplomacy also yielded fruitful outcomes, bringing us one step closer to fully building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We convened the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, laying out a comprehensive roadmap for upholding and improving China’s socialist system with Chinese characteristics, as well as advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. We grandly celebrated the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, firmly safeguarding Hong Kong and Macao’s prosperity and stability. Most notably, we marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with spectacular, vibrant celebrations and a majestic military parade. Across the nation, 1.4 billion citizens proudly sang songs celebrating the new China and embracing the spirit of striving forward in a new era—energizing the national psyche and igniting an unstoppable force of unity and determination. To reinforce our commitment to serving the people wholeheartedly, we launched the "Stay True to Our Original Aspiration and Keep Our Mission Firmly in Mind" thematic education campaign across the entire Party, urging over 90 million CPC members to always keep their hearts aligned with those of the people, remaining deeply connected to the public through shared aspirations, mutual support, and unwavering solidarity.

　　Xi Jinping emphasized that struggle shapes history, and practical action paves the way for the future. As we step into the new year, our mission is clear: to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and to make a final push against poverty, thereby achieving the first centenary goal. This will turn into reality the age-old Chinese aspiration—articulated centuries ago as "The people have labored hard; now they may finally enjoy moderate prosperity." Such a milestone holds profound significance in the historical journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, as well as the decisions from the Second, Third, and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 19th Central Committee. We must stay firmly focused on the overarching goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, while simultaneously advancing the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and coordinating the "Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy." Above all, we must uphold the new development philosophy, ensuring steady growth, deepening reforms, optimizing economic structures, enhancing people's livelihoods, managing risks effectively, and maintaining social stability. Only then can we deliver a high-quality victory in the fight against poverty, successfully conclude the endeavor of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, earn the genuine approval of the people, and ensure that our achievements stand the test of history.

　　Xi Jinping emphasized that in my New Year message this year, I said, "Seize the day and make the most of every moment—do not let precious time slip away." To truly understand this sentiment, we must first view it through the lens of the grand historical narrative of the Chinese nation. The Chinese nation boasts over 5,000 years of continuous civilization, during which it has made indelible contributions to the advancement of human progress. Yet, since modern times, the Chinese people have endured prolonged setbacks caused by internal turmoil and external pressures. As a result, the Chinese people have always harbored an extraordinary sense of urgency and awareness of the times. Looking back at history, after the Opium Wars, it took the Chinese nation 110 years to achieve national independence and liberate its people. In just 70 years, we’ve witnessed the remarkable transformation—from standing up and becoming prosperous to now striving for strength. And over the past four-plus decades, we’ve seen a dramatic leap forward in our country’s overall national power, people’s living standards, and global influence.

　　Xi Jinping pointed out that from now until the middle of this century, we have already laid out a strategic roadmap to progressively achieve a moderately prosperous society in all respects, basically realize socialist modernization, and ultimately build a strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and beautiful socialist modern country. This will be a great era for the Chinese people and the Chinese nation—a time to forge ahead into a new era and write a fresh, glorious chapter in the enduring legacy of Chinese civilization! Every individual among the Chinese people, every member of the Chinese nation, should feel proud and take immense pride in living in such an extraordinary age. Let us stay steadfast in our strategic direction, maintain unwavering resolve, continue to unite as one, persevere through hardship, and move forward undeterred—no matter how challenging the journey may become!

 

 

 

　　On January 23, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held the 2020 Spring Festival Gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Leaders of the Party and the state—Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Wang Qishan—joined representatives from all sectors of the capital to celebrate the arrival of the New Year together. Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Weibing captured the moment.

　　On January 23, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held the 2020 Spring Festival Gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Li Keqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, presided over the gathering. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Weibing.

　　At the New Year gathering, Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders warmly shook hands with everyone, exchanging greetings and wishing them a happy Spring Festival. Meanwhile, cultural and artistic performers delivered captivating performances.

　　Leading comrades from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, 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, along with veteran comrades, attended the New Year gathering.

　　Also attending the group gathering were officials from various central departments of the Party, government, military, and mass organizations, as well as from Beijing; leaders of the central committees of the democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce; representatives of non-partisan figures; representatives of retired senior comrades; renowned scholars and experts; and representatives from all sectors of the capital.