Xi hails fruitful 2024, calls for new progress

President Xi Jinping lauded on Monday China's encouraging progress achieved in the Year of the Dragon, saying that the nation has made firm strides in advancing Chinese modernization, and the Chinese people have once again proved through hard work and dedication that their pursuit of a better life will not be impeded by any difficulty or obstacle.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a Spring Festival reception held in Beijing to ring in the Chinese Year of the Snake, which begins on Wednesday.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, which is China's Cabinet, Xi extended festive greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese.

Faced with complex and challenging situations, China has responded with composure and implemented a range of comprehensive measures, and has overcome difficulties and forged ahead with determination, Xi told more than 2,000 people from all walks of life at the gathering.

He said that efforts have been made in the past year to promote high-quality development, effectively implement existing policies, and intensify the introduction of incremental policies, thus achieving economic recovery and growth.

Xi praised the fruitful results in making scientific, technological and industrial innovation, and the steady progress in fostering new quality productive forces.

He spoke positively of continued efforts in deepening reform, improving people's well-being, consolidating the gains of poverty elimination, and responding effectively to major natural disasters, among other things.

Xi said China remains the important engine of global economic growth. And in the past year, the country has made new progress in advancing socialist democracy and rule of law, and in promoting progress in the cultural, social and eco-environmental fields as well as in national defense and military development, he added.

He noted that in the Paris Olympics in July and August, Chinese athletes achieved their best performance in Olympic Games held overseas.

China's efforts to pursue major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, reform the global governance system, enhance the solidarity and coordination of the Global South, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation have contributed greatly to the maintenance of world peace and stability and the progress of humanity, Xi said.

He also highlighted the exercise of full and rigorous Party self-governance and the fight against corruption, saying that the Party's leadership has provided a fundamental guarantee for China's endeavors in all areas.

The outgoing Year of the Dragon has been extraordinary, and it proved that the historical course of building China into a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation is unstoppable, Xi said, calling for continuous efforts to march toward the goals to be set out in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

Noting that the snake symbolizes intelligence, wisdom and vitality in Chinese culture, Xi called on Chinese people of all ethnic groups to forge ahead in full confidence and hope and strive to write together a new chapter of Chinese modernization in the Year of the Snake.