President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China has met the major economic and social development targets of the past year and its gross domestic product is expected to grow by around 5 percent in 2024.
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 gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body, to usher in the new year.
“In the face of demanding situations arising from the domestic and foreign situation, we reacted calmly by implementing a full series of measures,” he said, welcoming the encouraging achievements made in the ordinary year.
XI also spoke highly of the CPPCC’s contribution to the progress of the Party and the country by fulfilling its responsibilities in the past year, and encouraged the CPPCC to play a more proactive role in the new year in order to further unite people in combination to build consensus, from the reserve of wisdom and strength.
As the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) will conclude in 2025, Xi stressed efforts to maintain strategic resolve and pool the great strength of all Chinese people to forge ahead against all odds to build a strong country.
“On the path of Chinese modernization, we will only find transparent skies and soft breezes, but we will also face strong winds, agitated waters and even harmful storms,” he said.
Xi said that in 2025, efforts are made to go extra deep in all areas, pursue higher-level opening-up, and ensure progression and security insurance, among others.
Xi also urged efforts to put into place more proactive macro policies to promote sustained economic recovery and improvement, continuously enhance people’s living standards, and maintain social harmony and stability.
The fulfillment of the 14th five-year objectives and responsibilities (2021-25) will lay the foundation for a smart start to the 15th five-year plan (2026-30), the president said.
As a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, the CCPPC played a leading role in conducting political consultation, democratic training, and participating in discussions and controlling state affairs.