Xi says achieving national rejuvenation will be ‘no walk in the park’

BEIJING — Xi Jinping said Wednesday that "achieving national rejuvenation will be no walk in the park, and it will take more than drum beating and gong clanging to get there."

Xi made the remarks in a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Citing a Chinese saying that "the last leg of a journey just marks the halfway point," Xi demands every Party member "be prepared to work even harder toward this goal."

"Today, we are closer, more confident, and more capable than ever before of making the goal of national rejuvenation a reality," Xi said.

"Realizing our great dream demands a great struggle," Xi said.

"All thinking and behavior in the vein of pleasure seeking, inaction and sloth, and problem avoidance are unacceptable," he warned.

To win the great battle, Xi called upon every Party member to "do more to uphold Party leadership and the Chinese socialist system, and resolutely oppose all statements and actions that undermine, distort, or refute them."

"Every one of us in the Party must do more to uphold Party leadership and the Chinese socialist system, and resolutely oppose all statements and actions that undermine, distort, or negate them," he said.

Xi also urged all Party members to do more to safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, and staunchly oppose all attempts to split China or undermine its ethnic unity, social harmony and stability.

Realizing the great dream also demands a great project, which is the great new project of Party building that is just getting into full swing, he said.

A great cause is also needed to realize the great dream, Xi said, adding that socialism with Chinese characteristics has been the focus of all of the Party's theories and practice since reform and opening up began.

The five-yearly CPC congress is China's most significant political meeting.

This is a meeting of great importance taking place during the decisive stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and at a critical moment as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, Xi said.