Chinese leaders extend festival wishes to predecessors

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state extended festival greetings to their predecessors as the Spring Festival draws near.

The veteran leaders that received the greetings included former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, as well as retired senior officials with the CPC Central Committee, national legislature, central government, national advisory body and military headquarters, said a statement from the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on Monday.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, personally visited some of the former leaders, wishing them a happy Spring Festival, good health and long lives, the statement said.

The former leaders expressed their gratitude and expectation that all Party members and Chinese people of all ethnic groups would unite to push forward the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the comprehensive reform, the rule of law and the strict management of the Party.

They wished that the whole country will work toward realizing the Chinese dream of the national rejuvenation, the statement said.

Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb 19 this year.