Speech Made When Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee Met the Press

Speech Made When Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee Met the Press

(October 23, 2022)

XI JINPING

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades, and Friends,

Good afternoon!

It is a great pleasure to meet with all of you from the media.

Yesterday, the CPC successfully concluded its 20th National Congress. This was a congress for holding high our banner, pooling our strength, and forging ahead in unity.

The international community has been following the 20th CPC National Congress with great interest. Political parties from many countries have sent congratulatory messages and letters, including many from heads of state or government as well as leaders of political parties and important organizations. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks.

A moment ago, we just concluded the First Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee which elected a new central leadership. I was re-elected General Secretary of the Party Central Committee. Now I would like to present to you the six other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau: Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi.

Zhao Leji and Wang Huning were members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and the other colleagues were members of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, so I think they should all be familiar to you.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, waves to members of the local and international press at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, October 23, 2022. He met the press right after being elected general secretary at the First Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER PANG XINGLEI

On behalf of the CPC’s new central leadership, let me take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to the whole Party for their trust. We will not forget our Party’s nature and purpose, nor our mission and responsibility. We will work diligently in performing our duties so that we may prove worthy of the trust the Party and the people have placed in us. 

Thanks to the concerted efforts of the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, we have achieved the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects within the set timeframe. Now, we are embarking confidently on a new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country and are striving to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on a Chinese path to modernization.

On the journey ahead, we must always maintain an enterprising spirit. Building a modern socialist country is the long-cherished goal and dream of the Chinese nation, which carries within it all the hard work and struggle of the Chinese people. The Chinese path to modernization is the result of long-term experiments and experience of the CPC and the Chinese people, and it is a great yet arduous undertaking. But the enormity of the task is what makes it great and glorious.

General Secretary Xi Jinping and the other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, meet members of the local and international press at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, October 23, 2022. They were elected at the recently concluded First Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER SHEN HONG

Countless Chinese people have dedicated themselves to this worthy cause, blazing a path from modest beginnings through perseverance and hard work. We will always remember their dedication and sacrifice. For our part, we must work hard and rise to the challenge. We must show greater initiative in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times, write new chapters in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and strive to achieve the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

On the journey ahead, we must ensure that in everything we do, we work for the people and rely on the people. All our tremendous achievements to date have been made by relying closely on our people, and we will keep looking to their support in the future to bring about new achievements.

The journey ahead is long and arduous, but with determined steps, we will reach our destination. We will not be daunted by high winds, choppy waters, or even dangerous storms, for the people will always be our backing and source of confidence. We will always stand together with our people and share a close affinity with them. By making their priorities our own and putting their wishes into action, we will continue working to realize their aspirations for a better life. 

On the journey ahead, we must always advance reform within the Party. A political party can only achieve lasting greatness if it remains committed to its original aspirations even after experiencing many hardships; it can only become invincible if it remains committed to reforming itself despite all its glories. The revolutionary travails and tempering of the past century, especially those of the first decade of the present new era, have made our Party stronger and more dynamic.

As we face new challenges and tests on the journey ahead, we must remain alert, always maintaining the prudence and sober-mindedness of one under examination. We must make persistent efforts to exercise full and rigorous self-governance of the Party. We must ensure that our century-old Party will become ever more vigorous through self-reform and continue to be the strong backbone that the Chinese people can lean on.

On the journey ahead, we must always champion humanity’s shared values. The world is grappling with unprecedented challenges. We have consistently called on the people of the world to take hold of and shape the future of humanity. When all countries seek the common good, we can achieve harmonious coexistence and cooperation for mutual benefit and join hands to create a brighter future.

We will work with the people of countries around the world to champion humanity’s shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, to promote global peace and development, and to advance the development of a global community of shared future.

Just as China cannot develop in isolation from the world, the world needs China for its development. Through 40-plus years of relentless efforts in reform and opening up, we have created the two miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability. The Chinese economy has great resilience, potential, and latitude. Its strong fundamentals conducive to long-term development will remain unchanged. China will become more and more open. We will maintain steadfast commitment to deepening reform and opening up across the board and pursuing high-quality development. A prosperous China will create more opportunities for the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades, and Friends,

The journey ahead will be long, full of dreams and glorious achievements. The roadmap has been drawn, and the call to march forward has been sounded. We must forge ahead with enterprise and fortitude and endeavor to create an even brighter future.

Over the past few days, the media has covered the 20th CPC National Congress extensively. With your help, China’s voice and the CPC’s perspectives have been heard across the globe and the world has turned its eyes to China. Thank you for your hard work and a job well done!

We welcome you to visit more places in our country and present to the world true and objective stories about China, the CPC, and this new era in which we are living.

Thank you! 

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 22, 2022)