Address to the First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress

Address to the First Session of the 14th National People’s Congress

March 13, 2023

Fellow deputies,

I was reelected at this session to serve as president of the People’s Republic of China. I would like to convey my sincere gratitude for the trust bestowed upon me by all of you and all Chinese people.

This is my third term as president, a prestigious position. The trust of the people is the most powerful of the forces propelling me forward; it also places significant responsibilities upon my shoulders. I will faithfully perform the duties vested in me by the Constitution, dedicate myself entirely to serving the country’s needs and the people’s interests, and strive to honor the trust you and the people have placed in me.

Fellow deputies,

Over the course of its 5,000-year history, the Chinese nation has weathered significant hardships and realized extraordinary achievements. From the mid-19th century, China was gradually reduced to a semi-colonial, semi-feudal and fragmented society, succumbing to oppression and humiliation inflicted by foreign powers. Ravaged by relentless wars and conflicts, the country fell into ruin, plunging the people into a dire plight. After its founding, the CPC united the Chinese people and led them in ending national humiliation. Through sustained efforts over the course of a century, the Chinese people have emerged as masters of their destiny, undergoing the tremendous transformation from standing up and becoming prosperous to growing in strength. The Chinese nation is now on an irreversible path towards rejuvenation.

From now until the middle of this century, the primary goal for all Party members and the people of the whole country is to build China into a great modern socialist country and advance national rejuvenation in all respects. Our generation has now undertaken this historic task. In accordance with the strategic plans outlined at the Party’s 20th National Congress, we must adopt a holistic approach to the Five-sphere Integrated Plan, ensure coordinated implementation of the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy, and expedite the drive towards Chinese modernization. We will work together on the new journey in a spirit of enterprise, achieving results that respond to the needs of our times, to our responsibilities to the future, and to the expectations of our people. Our generation is called on to make our contribution to the realization of our goal.

Fellow deputies,

We must steadfastly pursue high-quality development on the new journey towards building a great country and rejuvenating the nation. We must apply the new development philosophy in full, to the letter, and in all fields, and move faster to foster a new development dynamic. We will rigorously implement the strategies for invigorating China through science and education, for building a talent-strong country, and for driving development through innovation. We will bolster our strength and self-reliance in science and technology, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, better coordinate urban-rural and cross-regional development, transition towards a green and low-carbon economy and society, and achieve higher-quality and balanced economic growth. Through these efforts, we will consistently increase our country’s economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, and composite national strength.

We must always put the people first. The people are the decisive force in building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects. We will promote whole-process people’s democracy and uphold the unity of Party leadership, the people’s status as masters of the country, and law-based governance. We will improve the institutional framework that underpins the people’s position as masters of the country, actualize their will, protect their rights and interests, and spark their enthusiasm, initiative and creativity. To ensure that the gains of modernization are shared by all in a fair way, and that more substantial and tangible progress is made in promoting common prosperity, we will apply the people-centered philosophy of development, improve income distribution and social security systems, strengthen basic public services, meet the people’s basic living needs, and resolve the pressing difficulties and problems that concern them most. We will consolidate and develop the unity of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups at home and abroad, and mobilize all positive factors to create a formidable synergy for building a great country and rejuvenating the nation.

We must better balance development and security. Security is the bedrock for development, and stability is a prerequisite for building a strong and prosperous country. To guarantee the new development dynamic with a new security architecture, we must adopt a holistic approach to national security and strengthen its framework, bolster our capability to safeguard national security and manage public security, and strengthen our social governance system. We will modernize our national defense and armed forces in all respects, building the people’s military into a great wall of steel that can effectively safeguard the sovereignty, security, and development interests of our country.

We must make solid progress in implementing the policy of One Country, Two Systems and promoting national reunification. Lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao are indispensable for building China into a great country. We are committed to fully, faithfully and resolutely implementing the policy of One Country, Two Systems, under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao in accordance with the law and with a high degree of autonomy. We support the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in developing their economies, improving their residents’ wellbeing, and better integrating into the country’s overall development. Realizing complete reunification of our country is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people, and is essential for national rejuvenation. We will implement the Party’s overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, which encompasses the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and resolute opposition to external interference and separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence”. We must advance national reunification without fail.

We will strive to build a community with a shared future for humanity. China’s development benefits the rest of the world, and China cannot develop in isolation. We will steadily expand high-standard opening up, leveraging global markets and resources to foster our own growth while promoting shared development throughout the world. Always standing on the right side of history, we will remain committed to peace, development, and win-win cooperation, practice true multilateralism, and promote the common values of humanity. We will actively participate in the reform and development of the global governance system, contribute to building an open global economy, and put into action the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. These efforts will add more stability and positive energy to global peace and development, and also create a favorable international environment for our own progress.

Fellow deputies,

To govern the country well, the Party must first govern itself well. Only a strong Party can guarantee the prosperity of our country. We must uphold the Party’s leadership and the Central Committee’s centralized, unified leadership, and effectively strengthen the Party in the process of building a great country. We will consistently maintain a clear-headed and resolute approach to the complex challenges unique to such a large political party. We must have the courage to reform ourselves, exercise full and rigorous internal Party governance, resolutely combat corruption, and uphold Party unity and solidarity. We will ensure that our Party never betrays its nature and mission, and can therefore provide a strong guarantee for building a great country and rejuvenating the nation.

Fellow deputies,

The grand goal of building a great country and rejuvenating our nation is inspiring, and it encourages us to forge ahead. We will maintain a sense of urgency and boost confidence in our history, take timely actions that align with current trends, uphold fundamental principles while breaking new ground, maintain strategic resolve, work hard to overcome all difficulties, and consistently strive for a great country and national rejuvenation.

Thank you.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)